Winter Returns…for Today
4/8/10 - Much of Wisconsin was greeted with snow this morning. Green Bay had three-and-a-half inches of snow on the ground at five o’clock, and Madison had two-inches. In our area we are seeing snow fall but nothing is really accumulating on the streets. Any snow that does fall though will be gone by tomorrow as more spring-like weather returns. Still, flooding could become an issue in many places as the snow comes after most of central and eastern Wisconsin got pounded by heavy rains the past two days. In a 36-hour period ending at noon yesterday Beaver Dam received 1.6-inches of rain.
Fox Lake Approves Bid for Basin Construction
4/8/10 - After years of battling with the state the city of Fox Lake will begin building a court mandated equalization basin in the next few weeks. That’s after the city council approved a bid of just more than $1.3-million from Town and Country Construction to perform the work, an increase of about $128,000 over a previous bid that was rejected by the council earlier this year. The state is forcing the city to build the basin and improve their sewer system in an effort to avoid bypassing the wastewater treatment plant during times of heavy water flow, like It did during the floods in 2004 and 2008. The city is expected to learn in the next week whether or not it received a grant that would cover much of the cost of building the basin.
Farmers Struggling to Get Credit
4/8/10 - Wisconsin farmers are having a hard time getting the loans they need to put crops in the ground and feed their livestock. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says eight-percent of Wisconsin’s existing farm loans are having “major or severe” problems getting paid back. And 11-percent of Wisconsin farmers who now have credit probably cannot get additional credit lines this year. That’s the highest percentage in the Upper Midwest. Lower dairy prices to farmers are partially to blame. Wisconsin’s net farm income dropped 56-percent last year. And Federal Reserve economist David Oppedahl says dairy has been under the most financial stress of any major agricultural sector in the last couple years. The Fed says the loan repayment problem is twice as bad in Wisconsin as in neighboring Iowa and other states with smaller dairy operations. Government loan programs have provided some help – but experts say what’s really needed are higher milk prices for producers.
Recounts in Waupun and Mayville
4/8/10 - There will be two recounts in races from Tuesday’s election. In Mayville, current Police Chief Bill Linzenmeyer and Robert Redeker each received 134 votes. In accordance with state statute, both of their names were put into a hat and a city employee drew Redeker’s name. Linzenmeyer had 72-hours to request a recount and he did so yesterday. Meanwhile, the race for the 2nd Ward seat on the Waupun Common Council will also see a recount. Challenger Dan Ganz secured one more vote than incumbent Pete Kaczmarski, winning 50 to 49. If the voting numbers are upheld Ganz will join the council less than a year after leading a failed campaign to have Mayor Jodi Steger recalled. Steger was re-elected for her 3rd term on Tuesday.
Lottery Jackpots
4/8/10 - The Powerball jackpot is at 150-million-dollars for the next drawing on Saturday. Nobody won the top prize last night. And nobody from Wisconsin won the second prize, either. Three players in the state won 10-thousand-dollars each by matching four regular numbers plus the Powerball. The current jackpot has been building since March 13th, when a ticket sold in New Jersey won the year’s highest jackpot of 212-million-dollars. Saturday’s cash option is just over 72-million. Meanwhile, the Mega Millions’ jackpot is at 90-million for the next drawing tomorrow night. Nobody from Wisconsin won more than 600-dollars in that game’s last drawing on Tuesday night.
BD Aldermanic Write-In’s Canvassed
4/8/10 - Much of Wisconsin was greeted with snow this morning. Green Bay had three-and-a-half inches of snow on the ground at five o’clock, and Madison had two-inches. In our area we are seeing snow fall but nothing is really accumulating on the streets. Any snow that does fall though will be gone by tomorrow as more spring-like weather returns. Still, flooding could become an issue in many places as the snow comes after most of central and eastern Wisconsin got pounded by heavy rains the past two days. In a 36-hour period ending at noon yesterday Beaver Dam received 1.6-inches of rain.
Fox Lake Approves Bid for Basin Construction
4/8/10 - After years of battling with the state the city of Fox Lake will begin building a court mandated equalization basin in the next few weeks. That’s after the city council approved a bid of just more than $1.3-million from Town and Country Construction to perform the work, an increase of about $128,000 over a previous bid that was rejected by the council earlier this year. The state is forcing the city to build the basin and improve their sewer system in an effort to avoid bypassing the wastewater treatment plant during times of heavy water flow, like It did during the floods in 2004 and 2008. The city is expected to learn in the next week whether or not it received a grant that would cover much of the cost of building the basin.
Farmers Struggling to Get Credit
4/8/10 - Wisconsin farmers are having a hard time getting the loans they need to put crops in the ground and feed their livestock. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says eight-percent of Wisconsin’s existing farm loans are having “major or severe” problems getting paid back. And 11-percent of Wisconsin farmers who now have credit probably cannot get additional credit lines this year. That’s the highest percentage in the Upper Midwest. Lower dairy prices to farmers are partially to blame. Wisconsin’s net farm income dropped 56-percent last year. And Federal Reserve economist David Oppedahl says dairy has been under the most financial stress of any major agricultural sector in the last couple years. The Fed says the loan repayment problem is twice as bad in Wisconsin as in neighboring Iowa and other states with smaller dairy operations. Government loan programs have provided some help – but experts say what’s really needed are higher milk prices for producers.
Recounts in Waupun and Mayville
4/8/10 - There will be two recounts in races from Tuesday’s election. In Mayville, current Police Chief Bill Linzenmeyer and Robert Redeker each received 134 votes. In accordance with state statute, both of their names were put into a hat and a city employee drew Redeker’s name. Linzenmeyer had 72-hours to request a recount and he did so yesterday. Meanwhile, the race for the 2nd Ward seat on the Waupun Common Council will also see a recount. Challenger Dan Ganz secured one more vote than incumbent Pete Kaczmarski, winning 50 to 49. If the voting numbers are upheld Ganz will join the council less than a year after leading a failed campaign to have Mayor Jodi Steger recalled. Steger was re-elected for her 3rd term on Tuesday.
Lottery Jackpots
4/8/10 - The Powerball jackpot is at 150-million-dollars for the next drawing on Saturday. Nobody won the top prize last night. And nobody from Wisconsin won the second prize, either. Three players in the state won 10-thousand-dollars each by matching four regular numbers plus the Powerball. The current jackpot has been building since March 13th, when a ticket sold in New Jersey won the year’s highest jackpot of 212-million-dollars. Saturday’s cash option is just over 72-million. Meanwhile, the Mega Millions’ jackpot is at 90-million for the next drawing tomorrow night. Nobody from Wisconsin won more than 600-dollars in that game’s last drawing on Tuesday night.
BD Aldermanic Write-In’s Canvassed
4/08/10 - The city of Beaver Dam could have a new alderperson in Ward Six. The Beaver Dam Board of Canvassers Wednesday certified registered write-in candidate Teresa Hiles-Olson. If she formally accepts, she would occupy the seat being vacated by Andrew Westenmeyer who chose not to seek what would have been his first full-term. Hiles-Olson received 66 of the 81 write-in votes cast in Tuesday’s election. The canvass board was also able to certify incumbent Alderwoman Mary Flaherty in Ward Two. Flaherty failed to secure the proper number of signatures needed to appear on the April ballot and ran as a registered write-in candidate. Flaherty received all but two of the 34 votes cast in her ward. The canvassing board was also able to attribute 18 more votes to registered write-in candidate for mayor Joe Liverseed. There were a total of 313 votes for Liverseed compared to 1163 for incumbent Mayor Tom Kennedy. Some ballots had his name written-in but did not have the oval next to his name colored in. Deputy Clerk Linda Carney says there were also several write-in votes cast for “lemon seed.” Other write-ins in Beaver Dam’s mayoral race were Winston Churchill, Pee Wee Herman, Gandhi and Don Neuert.
Recount Friday In Tied Mayville Aldermanic Race
4/08/10 - The city of Mayville will hold a recount Friday morning in a Mayville aldermanic race that ended in a tie. Bill Linzenmeyer and Bob Redeker each received 134 votes. In accordance with state statute, both candidates’ names were put into a hat and a city employee drew Redeker’s name.
Barrett In Beaver Dam
4/08/10 - Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett spoke to a group of around 50 people at the Beaver Dam Veterans Center yesterday afternoon. The event was sponsored by the Democratic Party of Dodge County and was part of a two-day candidate’s forum that also featured leading Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker. Barrett says the best example of the difference between him and Walker is their takes on funding pensions. Barrett says his opponent borrowed the pension money Milwaukee County needed while he made difficult cuts in the city of Milwaukee to find the $49 million needed. Barrett addressed the crowd with the brace and bandages still on his right hand; injuries sustained after being attacked after the State Fair last August. His campaign officials concluded yesterday’s appearance by saying it shows that Barrett doesn’t pick fights but he doesn’t back down either.
BDFD Receives Grant
4/08/10 - The Beaver Dam Fire Department has been awarded a $70,000 grant to upgrade their communications equipment. Chief Alan Mannel announced the Assistance To Firefighters Grant to city officials this week. Mannel says his department is under an agreement with the county to upgrade all their radio equipment by 2013 to meet narrow-band requirements. The grant will allow the department to bring all the departments radios into compliance. There is a 10% local match needed.
Minor Injuries In Semi Vs. Car Head-On
4/08/10 - The driver of a vehicle that drove head-on into a semi truck Wednesday afternoon sustained only minor injures. Authorities say 40-year-old Gary Detert of Fond du Lac crossed the center line while driving on Highway 175 just outside Theresa around 1pm. Detert was transported to St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac where he had a legal blood draw. In addition to moving violations, charges of OWI will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office. The driver of the semi was not injured.
Senate Committee Expands Pay-Day Loan Regulations
4/08/10 - A Wisconsin Senate committee has endorsed new regulations for pay-day loans which are different from those passed by the Assembly last month. The Senate Financial Institutions panel voted 3-to-1 to limit pay-day loans to 15-hundred-dollars, or 35-percent of a person’s monthly income – whichever is lower. Also, pay-day loan stores could not be located within 15-hundred-feet or each other, or up to 150-feet of residential areas. The bill endorsed yesterday does not have a limit on annual interest rates for pay-day advances. But some members promised to introduce a 36-percent limit when the bill comes up for a vote in the full Senate next Tuesday. Both Assemblymen Jeff Fitzgerald and State Senator Scott Fitzgerald -- who represent the Dodge County area -- have said they do not support an interest rate cap. Wisconsin is the only state that does not regulate pay-day loans. The Senate and Assembly would have to agree on a final version of the bill before the current session ends on April 22nd. Any bills not passed by then will die.
Consumer Loan Delinquencies Down
4/8/10 - The number of people who are late in paying their consumer loans continues to go down. The American Bankers Association said delinquencies dropped in eight-of-11 categories during the fourth quarter of last year, compared to the third quarter. Late payments on bank credit cards fell almost a half-percentage point to four-point-four. About four-and-a-third percent of home equity borrowers were late in the final quarter. Loans are considered delinquent if they’re 30-or-more days overdue. The bankers’ report does not break down delinquencies in Wisconsin. But the F-D-I-C said bank card delinquencies in the state rose in the fourth quarter by around 10-percent. But early stage delinquencies – those less than 90 days late – dropped by two-percent. And home equity loan payments which are at least 90 days late fell by 18-percent in Wisconsin from the third quarter of last year.
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