Top Stories, October 1st

Badger Honor Flight Sets Sail

10/1/10 - The final Badger Honor Flight of the year takes off early Saturday morning. Honor Flight is a nationwide program that fly’s World War II veterans to their memorial in Washington DC at no charge. Kelly McMillan is the Chair of the Beaver Dam Fundraising Committee for the local chapter. There are four veterans from Beaver Dam heading out tomorrow. McMillan says they are on a strict timeline for this flight because there are 14 other Honor Flights from around the country flying into Washington DC on the same day in an effort to beat the winter weather. McMillan says she hopes there is a good turnout at the Dane County Airport Saturday evening where the Badger Honor Flight is expected to land around 9:15pm. Badger Honor Flight encompasses Dodge County and ten other counties. McMillan says there are still over 200 World War II veterans on the waiting list. Donations can be made to PO Box 258066 Madison, WI 53725.

High Speed Chase Suspect Waives Prelim

10/1/10 - A Burnett man has waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges that he led police on a traffic pursuit before crashing into a parked car and then fleeing on foot. According to the criminal complaint, Keaton Koch failed to stop for an alleged traffic violation near the intersection of North Spring and Main streets in Beaver Dam. That allegedly sparked a chase and Koch lost control of his minivan while going around the curve near the Kraft Foods plant and struck an unoccupied parked car on the 600 block of South Center. The 23-year-old reportedly ran from the accident scene was apprehended after one block. There was no one inside the parked car. Koch is being held on a $20,000 cash bond. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for later this month.

Correctional Officer Bound Over On Assault Charge

10/1/10 - A guard at the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun will proceed to trial on charges that he assaulted an inmate. Driftten Kitzman is facing a felony count of Abuse of Residents of Penal Facilities for an incident in July. According to the criminal complaint, another guard punched the inmate in the mouth and Kitzman intervened as the two struggled. The 41-year-old correctional officer allegedly threw the inmate on the ground face first, kneeled on his head and punched him in the ribs while saying, “Stop resisting.” He told investigators he was using tactics intended to gain compliance. If convicted, Kitzman could spend up to three-and-a-half years in prison. An arraignment hearing is set for next month.

Ammo Plant Contamination Debate Continues

10/1/10 - The Army says it will ask state-and-local governments to approve a public water system near the old Badger Army Ammunition Plant near Baraboo. Spokeswoman Joan Kenney says a common water supply is the best way to make sure people living near the plant have clean water. They now use their own wells – and they fear that groundwater contamination near the plant will eventually pollute their own wells and harm their families. The boundaries of the new water system must still be determined, and the exact cost is not known. Kenney says 20-million-dollars would not be out of the question, but she says it would provide peace-of-mind for up to 300 homes near the plant. The Army expects to make formal requests this fall to the state D-N-R and the towns of Merrimac, Prairie du Sac, and Sumpter. Kenney says the new system could be installed within three years if all the governments approve it. The Badger plant made ammunition during the Vietnam war, and it’s been closed since the 1970’s. Laura Olah of a citizens’ group says they’ll support a public water system if the residents want it. But she says an environmenttal clean-up of the site remains the top concern.

Victims Right Board Clarifies Kratz Decision

10/1/10 - The state Crime Victims’ Rights Board said Ken Kratz was not candid with the panel when he described racy text messages he sent to a domestic abuse victim. But the panel said it did not have the power to punish the Calumet County D-A because of it. Kratz was stepping down as the board’s chairman last December when he said his 30 texts were mutually friendly. But Stephanie Van Groll took those messages to Kaukauna Police because Kratz was pushing for a relationship, and called her “young and hot.” Kratz resigned from the board after being told to do so by the state Justice Department. That agency investigated the text messages. And while it said no crime was committed, the Justice Department told Kratz to resign from the Crime Victims’ Rights Board and report his behavior to the state’s Office of Lawyer Regulation. The victims’ rights panel was criticized for not punishing Kratz. But in a statement yesterday, the panel said it never received a complaint about its former chairman – and it does not have the authority to consider sexual harassment cases. The text messages were made public a couple weeks ago, and Kratz first said he would not resign as Calumet County’s chief prosecutor. But he changed his mind after the governor started procedures to remove him. His attorney now says Kratz will resign before October eighth – when a public hearing is scheduled on the removal request.

Kleefisch Comments on Cancer

10/1/10 - Republican lieutenant governor candidate Rebecca Kleefisch of Oconomowoc says she could have waited until after the November election to disclose the cancerous colon tumor she had removed. But she thought it was important that people should know about it. In a letter sent out yesterday, Kleefisch said she began to feel sick in April with cramping, headaches, and an upset stomach – and her husband told her to take it seriously, because his father had died from pancreatic cancer. In August, she saw a doctor for a third time and some problems cropped up. A colonoscopy confirmed she had a cancerous tumor in her colon, which she said was the size of a grapefruit. Kleefisch says she feels no complications – she does not need chemotherapy – and she’s cancer-free. Kleefisch easily won a five-way Republican primary for lieutenant governor on September 14th. She’s running together with G-O-P gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker. The Democratic candidate for governor, Tom Barrett, said in a statement that he wishes Kleefisch a fast and complete recovery.

Hassett Law License Stands

10/1/10 - A state board says it’s okay for attorney general candidate Scott Hassett to practice law, even though he does not have enough credit hours. Hassett allowed his law license to lapse into an inactive status. But it was restored in the middle of last year, after Hassett took 30 hours of continuing legal education. However, a rule was changed two months before that, requiring 60 hours of legal education instead of 30. But the State Board of Bar Examiners said Hassett and six other lawyers got inaccurate information from the board’s staff about the number of class hours they would need. So the board reinstated Hassett and other attorneys with only 30 hours. Hassett was Governor Jim Doyle’s first D-N-R secretary a few years ago. He’s running as a Democrat against state Attorney General J-B Van Hollen this fall.

State Offices Closed On Columbus Day

10/1/10 - State government used to be open on Columbus Day. But this year, most state agencies will be closed on Monday October 11th, so employees can take one of their required furlough days. Governor Jim Doyle made all state personnel take eight unpaid days off in each of the last two years, to help the state make up for a massive revenue shortfall. The motor vehicle division, D-N-R service centers, and the vital records office will be among those closed on Columbus Day. The Government Accountability Board will stay open as it deals with the upcoming November elections. Several other offices and state facilities will also remain open October 11th, including the Old World Wisconsin historical site.

Packers Study Details Economic Impact

10/1/10 - Like ‘em or not, the Green Bay Packers are a giant plus to Wisconsin’s economy – and they’re about to get even bigger. A new study shows that the Packers added almost 282-million-dollars to Brown County’s economy in 2009. And that was while the recession was in high gear. The figure includes the Packers’ operations, plus other spending by visitors that would not have happened had the team not been there. The report said the Packers are responsible for 25-hundred-60 employees in the area, who made about 125-million-dollars in wages. The Packer stadium district commissioned the report, as a springboard to the team’s future growth. The Packers have bought 28 acres around Lambeau Field – and they’re in the early stages of considering a variety of new development to generate revenue that would not have to be shared with the N-F-L’s other teams. Packers’ president Mark Murphy says they don’t have a timetable for deciding or acting on the new development. The study also considered what would happen if Lambeau Field added 10-thousand seats – and it said it would generate another one-point-seven-million dollars to the local economy for each game. The stadium now generates over 12-million in economic activity per game.

Top Stories, September 30th

River Levels At Portage Dropping

9/30/10 - The Wisconsin River keeps dropping in Portage – and officials say it will be back below its flood stage by late Thursday morning. The Columbia County Emergency Management office is taking damage estimates from flooded-out residents. Emergency management officials estimate that 120 homes sustained minor damage in Columbia County, while 10 have major damage. There has been approximately $40,000 in damage to public infrastructure. Columbia County also had five businesses with minor damage and one with major damage. Damage assessments will continue once flood waters recede. The water level of the Wisconsin River at Portage continues to drop at the rate of about one-inch an hour and DNR officials are hoping the worst is over at the Portage Levee. After reaching an all-time recorded high water level on Monday the Wisconsin River water level at Portage had dropped to 18.4 feet, almost a foot above flood stage, as of 3pm Wednesday afternoon. DNR operations crews inspected the 14-mile long sand levee and found it in “relatively good shape.” The DNR will continue to inspect the levee for the next week or so. Flood warnings remain for counties along the Mississippi River and a state of emergency remains in effect for Columbia and seven other counties.

DNR Seeks To Purchase Portage-Area Homes

9/30/10 - The state D-N-R says it will make a second effort to buy out more than 100 homes in Blackhawk Park area, and allow the levy to deteriorate. State officials first talked about a buy-out with local officials after the Floods-of-2008, and the D-N-R’s Steve Miller says the current flood should re-energize those talks. Miller says the 14-mile, 110-year-old sand levee was poorly built, and it’s too dilapidated. But the chairman of the town where the Portage levee is located says it should stay, and the D-N-R should keep maintaining it.

Scott Acquitted On Sexual Assault Charges

9/30/10 - It took a jury less than two hours Wednesday to find a Beaver Dam man not guilty on charges that he sexually assaulted an 8-year-old boy. According to the criminal complaint, the victim was staying at Michael J. Scott’s home last December when the alleged incident is said to have occurred. The 34-year-old faced over 100 years in prison if he had been convicted on the misdemeanor and two felony charges. Scott had been in custody since his arrest and was released from a $50,000 cash bond after the acquittal.

Horicon Bank Buying BD Westbury Branches

9/30/10 - Horicon Bank will be buying out the Beaver Dam branches of Westbury Bank. Horicon Bank Executive Vice President Jay Vanden Boogart says they’ve agreed to assume the deposits of Westbury Bank customers and purchase their loan assets. In addition, Horicon Bank will be purchasing the facility inside the Beaver Dam Piggly Wiggly but they will not be purchasing the brick and mortar facility on Frances Lane, which is expected to remain closed for a minimum of three months. Vanden Boogart says the 2200 Westbury customers who originated their accounts in Beaver Dam will become Horicon Bank customers. Westbury Bank President Jim Podewils says they are shedding a total of six locations, including the Beaver Dam market, leaving them with 14 branches. The new acquisitions would give Horicon Bank 15 locations in 13 Wisconsin communities. In a conference call, Podewils and Vanden Boogert told us there should be no real changes to the way that a customer’s account will be handled. Westbury employees who do not find employment with either bank will be given a severance package. The terms of the agreement are not being made public. The buy-out is contingent on regulatory approval but if all goes according to plan Vanden Boogart says the change will take effect on January 1.

Pfitzinger To Discuss Alcohol Court On WBEV

9/30/10 - Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Brian Pfitzinger will be our guest on WBEV’s Community Comment this afternoon. Pfitzinger will be in to discuss the new alcohol court that started this month in the county. Pfitzinger has been working on starting an alcohol court since campaigning for his circuit court seat in 2008. He says a person who pleads guilty to a second or third OWI can choose to enroll in alcohol court as a condition of their probation. Instead of just having a typical 20-day prison sentence, Pfitzinger says probation agents, alcohol court coordinators and the court itself will monitor the offender’s sobriety throughout the 18 month probation. While offenders in alcohol court may see a lesser jail sentence, the court still has the option to increase those penalties if the offender chooses not to remain sober. Pfitzinger says the goal is to get the offender sober for their own good and for the good of the community. The plan was approved by the county’s judges earlier this month. The county board, however, refused to fund the program, but Pfitzinger says volunteers from the community stepped forward after hearing him discuss the plan on a previous Community Comment. Today’s program starts at 12:35pm on 1430AM.

Horicon Still Looking For New Water Well

9/30/10 - Lower than anticipated water quality levels at a test well is pushing the Horicon City Council to look at a different site for a new well. The council approved a bid of about $93,000 this week to drill a second test well, this time near River Bend Park. City officials said the original site, at the high school, can be used but they would be forced to build a facility to treat the water which would significantly increase the cost of the project. It’s expected that digging on the test well will begin in late October and results from the samples taken should be back early December. Officials are hopeful a final decision on a site can still be made this year.

White Named Packer Coach of the Week

9/30/10 - Beaver Dam football coach Tim White learned yesterday that the Packers had selected him as their Coach of the Week. Each week during the football season the team selects one coach in the state to receive the honor. White says it’s a great honor but that he couldn’t have earned it without the help of the other members of his coaching staff and his players. White will receive several items and privileges according to the Packers website, while the school’s football program will receive a $1,000 donation. White is also scheduled to be enshrined in Beaver Dam’s Athletic Hall of Fame this Friday.

Retired Lodi Teacher Accused of Prostitution

9/30/10 - A teacher from Lodi who was called an “icon” when he retired is now charged with two counts of prostitution. 72-year-old Gerald Hilliker is due in Columbia County Circuit Court October 27th for a pair of misdemeanors. Prosecutors said he solicited sex at a truck stop west of Portage on July 13th. They said he distributed a flyer with a list of acts he was apparently willing to perform. In the spring, Hilliker retired after 48 years as a social studies teacher in Lodi. The Middle school principal called the veteran teacher an “icon” when he was honored at a school assembly earlier this year.

BDPD August Stats

9/30/10 - The Beaver Dam Police Department has released crime statistics for the month of August. According to the activity report, there were 4 burglaries. Two of the burglaries were residential the other two were business-related. There were 36 general thefts reported including 16 incidents of thefts from motor vehicles. All of that resulted in a total of $12,185 in stolen property, of which $5388 was recovered. There were two death investigations last month. Beaver Dam police officers issued 14 tickets for Operating While Intoxicated. There were nine citations for Disorderly Conduct along with eight domestic incidents, two child abuse offenses and two sex offenses reported. There were 94 adults arrested in August along with 25 minors. There were 36 traffic accidents in the city last month resulting in 7 injuries.

School Choice Decision Upheld

9/30/10 - A school district in eastern Wisconsin was told yesterday it cannot limit the number of students who leave under the state’s public school choice program. The Second District Appeals Court said state Superintendent Tony Evers was correct to ban a limit on student departures from the tiny Stockbridge district. The open enrollment program allows students in any public school district to move to another system – including virtual schools – if the receiving district has room. The student’s share of state aid, about 65-hundred-dollars, goes with the youngster to the new district. And Stockbridge called that a financial hardship to them. Under the original law, no school system could lose more than 10-percent of its students. But that provision stopped being written in the law after 2006, and Stockbridge said the Legislature never officially voted to drop it. However, the appellate court said lawmakers didn’t agree to keep it, either – and the school system cannot follow legal language that’s not written in the law. Eight parents in Stockbridge who had their youngsters’ transfers rejected appealed to the state superintendent to reverse the denials. After Evers sided with the parents, the Stockbridge district went to court. A Calumet County circuit judge rejected the school’s position prior to the appellate decision.

Top Stories, September 29th

Watertown Priest Accused of Felony Theft

9/29/10 - A former priest from St. Bernard Catholic Church in Watertown faces felony theft charges for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the church and its parishioners. Fr. Thomas Marr is said to have solicited money from parishioners, fellow priests, friends and family members saying he wanted to help members of the congregation. In borrowing the money he allegedly said it was a short-term loan for a house or to help a fellow priest or a needy member of the congregation. In July of last year, the church president ordered an audit after learning that as much as $125,000 in bills had gone unpaid. According to the criminal complaint, church officials then discovered a $50,000 IOU from Marr, dating back to November of 2008. The criminal complaint also lists 21 families bilked out of more than $168,000. A previous estimate from the church was closer to $400,000. Marr is said to have wired those funds, along with around $160,000 from his own retirement account, to Arthur Eith of Juneau. Eith allegedly used the money to secure the release of funds for work he had done as a consultant in Nigeria. Eith was supposedly investing $3 million dollars with the intention of receiving back $35 million. Marr contends that he never intended to keep the money and planned to give it back when the Nigerian scheme panned out for Eith, plus one million dollars. Marr faces up to 20 years in prison, if convicted. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is acting as special prosecutor in the case. An initial hearing is set for October 18 in Jefferson County court.

Zipter Sentenced In Multi-County Burglary Spree

9/29/10 - A Milwaukee woman was placed on probation for her role in burglarizing a Dodge County residence as part of a multi-county crime spree. 30-year-old Danielle Zipter and two others of broke into a Town of Ashippun home in June of last year. According to the criminal complaint, a witness saw three people taking items from a neighbor’s residence and putting those items into their vehicle. The man called 9-1-1 and provided a description of the suspects and the vehicle. Within 25-minutes, a Dodge County deputy confronted the burglars in the driveway of another residence in Washington County. That owner, an off-duty police officer, was awakened by the burglars kicking in his door and he was in the process of calling 9-1-1 himself. The three have been also been connected to burglaries in Washington and Waukesha counties. Zipter was also placed on probation for the Washington County break-in and will be sentenced for the Waukesha County burglary in November.

21-year-old Corey Shreeves of the Milwaukee-area was sentenced previously in Dodge County court to one year in prison. Shreeves still has charges pending in Washington and Waukesha counties.

25-year-old Sabrina Mauhar, the purported ringleader, was sentenced to two years in prison for the Ashippun burglary and that will run consecutive to a four year prison sentence handed down in the Washington County break-in. She awaits sentencing in the Waukesha County burglary.

Waupun SD Mill Rate Up Sharply

9/29/10 - Waupun School District taxpayers could see a significant increase in their tax bill. The school board voted unanimously at their annual meeting to approve a tax levy of nearly $10.4-million. That would result in a mill rate of $10.31, which is an increase of $1.11 over last year. That means the owner of a property worth $150,000 would pay about $1,540 for the school portion of their taxes. Administrators say the increase is in large part due to a cut in a state aid. The numbers outlined by district officials are a worst case scenario and they won’t know the exact tax increase until the state aid is finalized next month.

John Deere Employees Ratify 6-Year Contract

9/29/10 - The union that represents employees at John Deere Horicon Works has reached an agreement with the company. The International Association of Machinists Local 873 has notified Deere & Company that IAM-represented employees have ratified a six-year contract. The new labor contract takes effect October 1 and extends through September 30, 2016. John Deere’s Vice President of Turf and Utility Products John May says the new agreement will help Deere sustain its success in the global economy. The new contract covers approximately 900 employees and 775 retirees at John Deere Horicon Works.

Watertown, Brookfield Balk At Train Station

9/29/10 - The mayor of Brookfield wants to know who the next governor will be before his city approves a station for the planned high-speed train to Madison. Steve Ponto says the state D-O-T has not given him cost estimates to build-and-operate the depot. And because the two candidates for governor have opposing views on high-speed rail, Ponto says his City Council should know the outcome of the election before proceeding. In Watertown, the city council will vote at their first meeting in October on whether to put an advisory referendum question to voters next spring that will gauge their interest in building a $5-million station as part of being a stop on the line. A group of citizens gathered 1300 signatures and presented a petition to the council last week asking for the referendum question. Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Tom Barrett favors the high-speed train from Milwaukee-to-Madison. Republican Scott Walker says he’d scrap the project if he’s elected.

BD Leaf Pick-Up Begins Next Week

9/29/10 - Leaf pick-up in Beaver Dam begins on Monday. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says leaves -- along with lawn grass rakings resulting from leaf gathering, garden vines and stalks – may be placed in the terrace areas of the street edge in loose piles for collection by the Department of Public Works. Collection will continue through late November. Stoiser says yard waste cannot be placed in the street or gutter, or in any containers. Leaves, rakings and garden debris cannot be mixed with other forms of waste like brush or shrubbery cuttings. Stoiser says fruits, nuts and vegetables are not acceptable and should be disposed of as garbage. Beaver Dam’s Yard Waste Drop-Off site is located at 640 South Center Street. No waste of any kind will be allowed from outside the city.

Incomes Down, Poverty Up in Wisconsin

9/29/10 - Household incomes went down, while poverty went up in Wisconsin last year. The U-S Census Bureau says the average Wisconsin household took in 49-thousand-993 dollars in the recession year of 2009. That’s three-point-eight percent less than the 51-thousand-942-dollars the average household took in the previous year. Wisconsin joined 33 other states with falling incomes. And the Badger State’s incomes were about 220-dollars less than the national average of 50-thousand-211-dollars – which was down just under three-percent. Meanwhile, the Census Bureau said 12-point-four percent of Wisconsin households lived in poverty last year – up by two-percentage points from the year before. There were 683-thousand Wisconsinites in poverty in ’09, up from 570-thousand the previous year. The figures come from a Census Bureau survey that was taken separately from the 2010 Census this past spring. Those results won’t start coming out until later this year.

Johnson & Son on Employment Scam

9/29/10 - S.C. Johnson and Son, Incorporated, says an online employment ad using their company name is a fake. That ad claims to offer $25-dollar an hour data entry jobs, but it requires the applicant to pay $279-dollars for training software. The Racine-based company says it isn’t associated with the ad and people should ignore it, or report it to the website where it is being posted. S.C. Johnson and Son makes products like Glade air freshener and Windex cleaning fluid.

Top Stories, September 27th

Movie About Underage Drinking Dangers Screened Tonight

9/27/10 - The public is invited to attend a movie viewing tonight (Monday) about the dangers of underage drinking and driving that features students from the Beaver Dam High School. The 45-minute movie is called “Deceptions.” Deb Lins is the school district’s Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Abuse Coordinator. She says the realistic movie created with actual BDHS students shows the tragedy that can result from some of the unhealthy but not uncommon choices made by teens and their parents. In conjunction with “Deceptions," Lins says the Drug Free Community Coalition has kicked off its fall "Parents Who Host, Lose the Most" campaign to bring awareness to parents about the risks and consequences of underage drinking and hosting youth alcohol parties. Lins encourages students, parents and the great Beaver Dam community to attend tonight’s 7pm showing of “Deceptions” in the High School auditorium. Additional dates are being planned and DVD copies of the movie will be available for purchase in the future.

Hinkley Sentenced In Runaway Assault

9/27/10 - A Beaver Dam man who sexually assaulted a young teen has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. Robert Hinkley Jr. pleaded “no contest” Friday to a reduced charge of Third Degree Sexual Assault. Judge Steven Bauer withheld a finding of guilt and Hinkley was placed on deferred prosecution on that count. The 19-year-old also had a misdemeanor charge of Fourth Degree Assault added and was ordered to serve 60 days in jail with Huber privileges and one year on probation. Hinkley and another man assaulted the young runaway in April. 20-year-old Christopher Bowers of Beaver Dam pleaded “no contest” in July to a pair of felony charges of Second Degree Sexual Assault and will be sentenced next week. The two say they did not know the victim’s age but, according to the criminal complaint, removed several “missing person’s posters” with the juvenile’s age listed.

Columbus Light Commission Debate Continues

9/27/10 - The “structure and powers” of municipal utilities is a contentious issue in Columbus. Proposed changes to the make-up of the Columbus Water and Light Commission have been introduced by Mayor Bob Link. Link brought forward an ordinance to amend the section of the Columbus Municipal Code dealing with the Utilities Commission to include the mayor. Water and Light is currently made up of FIVE citizen members, the City Administrator, and one appointed Council member. Citizen member and Commission President Al Strohschein is campaigning for a return when his current term expires October 1. The Council listened to the first reading of the ordinance without bringing forth a motion to pass or defeat the proposed change. Although no “action” can be taken at this week’s Committee of the Whole session, the issue is sure to draw serious discussion. The Council will meet Tuesday night at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center.

DNR Loan Factored Into Columbus Wastewater Plan

9/27/10 - Columbus Utility rate payers will not be footing the entire bill for the $10 million dollar in improvements in the City’s seven year wastewater master plan. When the Council approved the first two construction projects on the plan this week, they also passed resolutions that will allow the city to borrow up to $2 million dollars from the Department of Natural Resources (DNRs) “Clean Water Fund.” City Administrator Boyd Kraemer told the Council that the City would need to apply for the DNR low interest loans to stay on budget for the wastewater system construction being planned. The resolutions declare that Columbus intends to pay back money from the DNR loan and allows the City to borrow funds on a short term basis to pay for the initial costs of the projects until “Clean Water Fund” money becomes available.

Fair Association To Continue Alcohol Wristbands

9/27/10 - The Dodge County Fair Association plans to use a one dollar wristband system for alcohol again next year. Association President Jim Schoenike says there were some initial complaints this year but Schoenike says overall the program was a success, raising over $7000 for a half-dozen local non-profits. The programs benefiting include Shop With A Cop, the Moraine Park Technical College Corrections Club, Dodge County Emergency Response Team, The Wisconsin Troopers Association, the Dodge County Explorers and the Badger Honor Flight Program.

Beaver Dam Intersection Closes Today

9/27/10 - Beginning today, the intersection of South Spring and Washington streets in Beaver Dam will be closed for a month. It’s part of a storm sewer relief project intended to alleviate recurring downtown flooding issues. A "relief" storm sewer is being installed beginning at Park Avenue and extending south to the Beaver Dam River. Also today, North University Avenue will be closed on-and-off for the next two days so that landscaping work can be completed. The stretch of road re-opened last week after a three-month closure as part of a $650,000 reconstruction project. The closure is for the safety of landscaping crews. Both projects are weather permitting.

Watertown Man Flown From Scene of 3-Vehicle Wreck

9/27/10 - A Watertown man was flown from the scene of a three-vehicle accident late Saturday morning in the Town of Emmett. Daniel Zindars crossed the centerline on State Highway 26 near Silver Creek Road and struck a dump truck and another passenger car in the opposite lanes. The 66-year-old was taken by Flight For Life to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. The dump truck was operated by 60-year-old Willie Rose of Watertown who was transported to the Watertown Hospital for treatment. The driver of the passenger car was not injured. The accident remains under investigation.

Top Stories, September 26th

Flooding Problems Persist At Portage

9/26/10 - While people in Arcadia have returned home, flooding problems now are hitting central Wisconsin. Levees held in Arcadia and the Trempealeau River has started to recede. Flood waters from two creeks inundated downtown Arcadia and forced about half of the town's 24 hundred residents to leave. Now, Stevens Point and Portage are reportedly suffering some of the worst flooding seen in the last 17 years. According to the National Weather Service, which measures the crest on the Highway 33 bridge south of Portage, the local crest was 20 feet 6 inches in 1938. The next highest was a measurement of slightly more 20 feet 2 inches in 1973. The Wisconsin River is expected to crest at 19.7 feet in the Portage area today or Monday, and Columbia County Emergency Management is urging some people near the Wisconsin River to relocate. The American Red Cross is available if assistance in relocating is necessary. Governor Jim Doyle declared a state of emergency for Portage, Wood, Buffalo, Marathon and Jackson counties.

Two Injured In Three-Vehicle Wreck Near Watertown

9/26/10 - Two people were injured in a three vehicle accident late Saturday morning in the Town of Emmett. According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, the accident occurred around 11am. 66-year-old Daniel Zindars of Watertown was traveling south on State Highway 26 when he crossed into the northbound lanes and struck a dump truck operated by 60-year-old Willie Rose of Watertown. Zindars minivan then deflected off the dump truck and struck a northbound Buick. The driver of the Buick, 71-year-old Raymond Rumler of Watertown, was not injured. Rose was transported to the Watertown Hospital for treatment. Zindars, the driver of the minivan, was flown from the scene by Flight For Life helicopter to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. The accident is being investigated by the Dodge County Crash Investigation Team.

Month-Long Closure Of BD Intersection Begins Monday

9/26/10 - The intersection of South Spring and Washington streets in Beaver Dam will be closed for a month beginning tomorrow. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says its part of the “Park Avenue Relief Storm Project” to alleviate recurring downtown flooding issues. A "relief" storm sewer is being installed beginning at Park Avenue and extending south to the Beaver Dam River. Prior to construction of the proposed concrete box culvert; telephone ducts, a sanitary sewer, and water main must be relocated. All of the utility relocation will occur in the Washington/South Spring Street intersection. Stoiser says as a result, the intersection will be completely closed to through-traffic for approximately four weeks. The contractor is S&L Underground & Trucking Inc. The start date is weather permitting.

Jefferson County Bank Among Those IDed By FDIC

9/26/10 - A Jefferson County bank was among five that the F-D-I-C has told to improve their operations. Cambridge State Bank of Cambridge joins Park Bank of Madison in the order to improve their compliance with federal banking rules. Officials also ordered Securant Bank of Menomonee Falls, Community Business Bank of Sauk City, and First State Bank of New London to increase their capital and reduce delinquent loans. Three of the five banks lost money in the first half of this year. The ones that reported profits were the Park and Securant banks. The F-D-I-C has ordered more than 30 Wisconsin banks over the past two years to make improvements.

Women Holding Less Offices In Wisconsin

9/26/10 - A new study shows women have made "little progress" in attaining elected office in Wisconsin. In fact, fewer women now hold statewide office than five years ago. The Wisconsin Women's Council analyzed 13,500 local and statewide elected offices. It found many women serving as county clerks, treasurers, and school board members. But that's not always the case. The Council's executive director is Christine Ludbury who says some communities have no female representation at all. Fifteen percent of city councils, 24 percent of village boards, even five percent of school boards have no women members. Ludbury says there are only seven women in the state Senate and 22 in the Assembly - the lowest level in 20 years.

More Accusations Against Calumet County DA

9/26/10 - An Appleton newspaper reports a fifth woman has come forward saying Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz made an inappropriate sexual suggestion to her. The newspaper says the woman doesn't want to be named. Though she was a domestic violence victim, Kratz wasn't working on her case at the time. She says he offered to help her with her impact statement in exchange for sex. Kratz first came to the public's attention when he was accused of sending sexual text messages to the ex-girlfriend of a man he was prosecuting for domestic abuse. It was reported Friday that the Kratz was never interviewed before that case was closed. A legal oversight group has now reopened the investigation.

Plane Crash Victims IDed

9/26/10 - The Vilas County Sheriff's Office identifies the two victims of a plane crash near Minocqua as Kevin and Pierce McCabe of Illinois. The FAA called the county sheriff Thursday night about an airplane that was overdue. It had left Aurora, Illinois, and disappeared from radar in northern Wisconsin. The plane was found in the Trout River Friday morning in Arbor Vitae. Both victims had been thrown out of the plane. They were reportedly en route to Lakeland Airport in Arbor Vitae.

Heavy Fines Follow Fish Kill

9/26/10 - An Ohio man pleads no contest to charges he killed more than three thousand fish at Lake Puckaway. Timothy Smith will pay a 19 thousand dollar fine and lose his hunting and fishing privileges for three years. He did avoid jail time. Smith's attorney says his client was hired by the DNR to kill carp in the lake, but his nets caught thousands of walleye, northern pike and catfish in the lake. Though his workers tried to save some of the fish, they couldn't get them out of the nets fast enough. A DNR warden reports dead fish were spread over the lake's beaches for more than a mile.

Wolves To Be Trapped in Jackson County

The DNR says a pack of wolves in Jackson County will be trapped because the wolves have become too familiar with human beings. Officials have confirmed a wolf from the Bear Bluff Pack injured a dog September 18. The DNR reports the wolf approached within 50 feet of a hunter, then got in front of the man's vehicle when he got in it. This is believed to be the first verified wolf attack on a bird hunting dog in this state. The Department of Natural Resources has tried to keep wolves away from human activity, but there have been several reports of wolves approaching people.

Wisconsin Olympian Passes

9/26/10 - A two-time Olympic competitor from Wisconsin has died at his home in Franklin. Delbert Lamb was 95 years old. He was a speedskater. Lamb finished fifth in the 500 meters in 1936 in Germany and sixth in the 1948 Olympics in Switzerland. Lamb had Alzheimer's. After his competitive skating career was over he served for many years as an official. He also owned a business in Milwaukee.

Top Stories September 25th

More Disaster Declarations for Flooding in WI


9/25/10 - The list of counties impacted by western Wisconsin flooding continues to grow, with a state of emergency declared in five more. Governor Jim Doyle issued the declaration Friday afternoon for Buffalo, Marathon, Portage, Wood and Jackson Counties. They join Clark and Trempealeau Counties on a list of seven that have seen homes damaged, roads closed, and even some areas evacuated due to rising waters. Doyle says the declaration allows the state to continue doing everything possible to help those affected by the storms make a quick recovery.

First Governor’s Debate is Lively

9/25/10 - Democrat Tom Barrett came out aggressively in last night's debate between the two candidates for Wisconsin governor. He attacked Republican Scott Walker's plan for tax cuts, saying it would bury the state in debt and force big cuts to public safety and education. Recent polls show Walker leading Barrett. The Democratic mayor of Milwaukee said he went after Walker because it is important for voters to see the differences between the two. Much of the debate focused on the economy and the 180 thousand jobs lost in Wisconsin. Walker said his plan to help small businesses would replace lost jobs.

Fair Association Presents Money from Wristbands

9/25/10 - The Dodge County Fair Association is doling out $7000 to a handful of local non-profit organizations. Fair Association President Jim Schoenike says for the first time this year, the fair board charged one dollar for wristbands to those drinking alcohol. There were some initial complaints but Schoenike says overall the program was a success.

The programs benefitting include Shop With A Cop, the Moraine Park Technical College Corrections Club, Dodge County Emergency Response Team, The Wisconsin Troopers Association, the Dodge County Explorers and the Badger Honor Flight Program. Schoenike says the Fair Association will be looking to repeat the program in 2011.

Block Scheduling Process Moving Along in BD

9/25/10 - A plan to address concerns with the block scheduling format at the high school in Beaver Dam is moving along as planned. In July, a six month process was unveiled that would be broken into three segments. The first part got underway this month with listening sessions for those affected, including students, parents and staff. Principal Mark DiStefano says an overwhelming theme of the listening sessions has been discussion about what type of schedule will allow kids to be most successful. There are two listening sessions planned for next week. A student session is set for Tuesday afternoon from 3 to 4 p-m in the high school auditorium. A second session for parents and community members will be held later that night from 7 to 8 in the high school career center.

Doyle Headed Back to China

9/25/10 - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle is headed back to China on his fifth trade-promotion mission to that economic giant. Doyle will visit four cities over the next week, returning Friday. He delivers a speech next Monday at the Central China Expo. The topic will be "the low-carbon economy." He also plans to attend World Expo 2010 before returning to the Badger State next Friday.

Mother Who Tossed Baby in Trash Going to Trial

9/25/10 - A woman from Franklin will go on trial, accused of tossing her newborn baby girl in a trash bin. Breanna Gering is charged with first-degree homicide and concealing the death of a child. She has waived her right to a preliminary hearing. The 23 year old Gering is accused of giving birth in a restaurant bathroom in Racine, then putting the infant in a trash bin outside. The baby died.

Officials Working to Cleanup Great Lakes Waterfronts

9/25/10 - The summer months bring millions of visitors to the shores of the Great Lakes and many leave behind a great deal of trash. Dennis Takahashi-Kelso of Ocean Conservancy says it can have a major impact on an important resource. He says that trash can harm wildlife, pollute the water, and pose an economic risk to industries that rely on clean water. Volunteers will be among many people worldwide working this weekend to restore the natural beauty of those waterfronts. Takahashi-Kelso says it’s the 25th anniversary of the group’s international coastal cleanup, the largest volunteer effort in the world to remove trash from waterways and shorelines around the globe. Several clean-up projects are going on along the Lake Michigan and Superior shorelines in Wisconsin.

Drug Drop-off in BD Today

9/25/10 - Many Americans have old or expired medications sitting around the house, and law enforcement officials say that can be a prescription for danger. As part of a national effort to round up those unwanted drugs, Demetra Ashley with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency says sites around Wisconsin will be collecting old medications starting today. Ashley says several police departments across the state will be running drop-off points where the public can anonymously turn in their old medications to be incinerated. She says it’s the only safe way to really dispose of them, because throwing them in the trash can be an invitation to thieves or result in them ending up in water supplies. Ashley says keeping old prescription drugs around the house can be dangerous, especially if young children are around. There have been a growing number of cases where kids have taken the drugs for recreational use or illegally sold them. Medicine cabinets can also be targeted by thieves. Officials in Beaver Dam say you can drop off unused or expired prescription medications in the police department parking lot from 8am to noon. In case of bad weather, the collection will take place in the lobby of city hall.

Top Stories, September 24th

Toilet Paper Caper Unravels

9/24/10 - An employee at a cell phone store in Waupun has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft charges for stealing a customer’s wallet. A Dodge County judge fined 21-year-old Chelsea Lefkoski $250 this week related to the incident this past June. According to the criminal complaint, the victim was in the store trying to activate a phone that Lefkoski said was stolen. Turns out it was not stolen. In her frustration, the victim left the store without her wallet but returned with a friend to reclaim it. That friend, Timothy Lavoie of Waupun, apparently went into the bathroom to get toilet paper to clean up grape juice that had spilled in his car. The victim was only given her identification card back. Meanwhile, employees of the cellular store called police to report the toilet paper as stolen. Employees also claim they saw Lavoie drop a baggie with white powder as he returned the toilet paper. A canine sweep of Lavoie’s vehicle allegedly uncovered illegal drugs and he was arrested along with the woman whose wallet was stolen. Charges were eventually dismissed against her but Lavoie faces a pair of felony charges. The victim’s mother was also arrested, and later pled guilty to obstructing, for protesting her daughters arrest. Waupun police later reviewed video footage from the store and discovered that Lefkoski had indeed stolen the woman’s wallet and lied about it.

Weapons Stolen In Break-In

9/24/10 - A gun vault was among items missing from a town of Leroy home that was the target of a break-in Monday night. It happened at a residence on County Highway Y in the northeastern part of the county. The subjects forced their way into the home through a back door. Items missing from the home included the vault, a 9-milimeter pistol, several vehicle keys and the dresser the gun vault was screwed into. The Sheriff’s Department investigation continues.

Peyer On Randolph Referendum

9/24/10 - Randolph Superintendent Greg Peyer says he’s heard from both sides in preparing for a major school referendum that will appear on voter’s ballots in November. The school board approved two questions last month. The first will ask them to approve a bond not to exceed $12.6 million to build an extension at the high school that would allow grades sixth through eighth to be moved there. The second option would have the district expand that addition to include pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at a cost not to exceed 20.8-million. If the first option were to pass an owner whose property is valued at $150,000 would see an additional 369-dollars per year added to their tax bill, while if the second option were to pass it would increase that to 624-dollars.

Fall River Meter Upgrade

Fall River residents will be getting a new system for metering homeowners’ water usage. The contract to install the antenna on the Water Tower went to Hill Wiring of Baraboo. That should be installed by October 1st. The Village will hold a special Board meeting next Tuesday (September 28th) to approve the bid for installation of home meter transmitters. The new technology will send information on water usage from home meters to the Village Hall monitoring equipment via radio waves. This will allow for daily monitoring and replace quarterly visits to each home by “the meter man.” The Village’s contract for installation of home transmitters calls for the first 25 meters to be installed for test purposes by October 17th.

BDACT Goes Loco

9/24/10 - The Beaver Dam Area Community Theater is presenting a musical revue highlighting the 1970’s this weekend. “Loco Vocals” features four band directors and two choir directors, mixed-in with a couple of the guys from “Harmonology” covering music from the likes of Elton John, The Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, the Carpenters and Supertramp. Show times are 7pm tomorrow (Sat) and 2pm Sunday at the Beaver Dam Community Theater building on North Spring Street. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids 12 and under and are available at Rechek’s Food Pride or at the door.

Jobless Numbers Edge Downward

9/24/10 - Unemployment rates were down slightly in four of five area counties last month. Dodge County dropped from 7.9% in July to 7.7% last month. Last year at this time it was at 9.6%. Fond du Lac County was down one-tenth of a percent to 7.6%. Jefferson County sits at 8.2% down from 8.5%, while Washington County dropped three-tenths to 7%. Columbia County was the only area county to see an increase in their unemployment rate over the two-month period moving from 6.9% to 7%. Sixty-one (61) of Wisconsin’s 72 counties saw their actual unemployment rates go down or stay the same. Dane County continued to have the lowest rate at 5.1% while Menominee County has the highest rate at 20.3%. The statewide rate was 7.7%. That’s down one-tenth of a percent from July and eight-tenths of a percent lower than a year ago.

State Unemployed Waiting Longer for Benefits

9/24/10 - The federal government says unemployed Wisconsinites are still waiting longer than they should for appeal hearings when their requests for jobless benefits are denied. The Labor Department said the state is completing about 10-percent of appeals within 30 days after they’re filed. That’s well below the federal standard of 60-percent. And only 13-percent of appeals are handled within 45 days after they’re filed – below the federal standard of 80-percent. State officials say they’re doing better now than a few weeks ago. Workforce development spokesman John Dipko said there almost 57-hundred pending appeals – 220 less than several weeks ago. He said the state is dealing with record claims, and Wisconsin is not the only one that’s behind. Dipko said 39 other states have also failed to meet the federal standards for scheduling appeal hearings. And he says Wisconsin has done better than most states in other standards – like making first-time payments on a timely basis.

Price Of Bacon Up

9/24/10 - It costs more than ever to bring home the bacon. CattleNetwork-Dot-Com said Wisconsin shoppers paid 4.35-a-pound for bacon last month. That’s an all-time high, and it’s 20-percent more than the same month a year ago. But the Wisconsin Pork Association says it’s not a big windfall for pig farmers – many of whom are in debt from the recession. The group’s Tammy Vaassen said production costs were so high over the last two years that many farmers lost money-per-pig. And it forced some farmers nationwide to leave the business, while others down-sized their hog operations. Vaassen says more pigs normally enter the supply chain in October, and it’s likely that the record-high prices for bacon and other pork products won’t be sustained for much longer.

Wisconsin’s Richest Losing Ground

9/24/10 - Wisconsin’s richest business magnates are losing ground, compared to others around the country. That’s according to Forbes Magazine’s annual list of the 400 richest Americans. John Menard of the Eau Claire-based Menards home improvement chain is worth an estimated five-point-two-billion dollars. That’s up from five-billion a year ago, but he dropped down the Forbes list from 44th a year ago to 51st. Herb Kohler, the plumbing and golf legend from the Sheboygan area, lost a third of his net worth. Forbes puts it at two-billion, dropping him from 97th to number-182. Trucking magnate Donald Schneider of Green Bay maintained his net worth of two-and-a-half billion, but he still fell 21 spots down the Forbes list to 144th. Diane Hendricks, who co-founded A-B-C Supply of Beloit, dropped from 158th to 170th, despite gaining 100-million over the last year. And the family that owns S-C Johnson of Racine shared the 182nd spot with Kohler – and that’s one place better than last year, with a gain of 50-million dollars. Also, James Cargill of Birchwood in northwest Wisconsin rose from 220th on last year’s Forbes list to 205th. His net worth rose from one-point-six billion last year to one-point-nine billion now.

Farm Aid Seeks Volunteers

9/24/10 - A group that promotes volunteerism is looking for people to help out at the Farm Aid concert a week from Saturday at Milwaukee’s Miller Park. The group “Serve-60” is looking for people to survey concert-goers about the music they like, their favorite foods, and how much they know about farming. The information will help the Farm Aid organization use its resources better – and it will help in arranging future concerts. The volunteers are being sought through Friday. More information is available on the group’s Web site at Serve60-Dot-Com. “Serve-60” is based in Milwaukee, and it encourages community service for 60 minutes at a time. Willie Nelson started Farm Aid a quarter century ago, and the October second concert is the 25th annual event. Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and John Mellencamp will be among those joining Nelson on stage.

Top Stories, September 23rd

Parkhurst Documents Tanzanian Trip

9/23/10 - The founding member of a non-profit organization that focuses on building self-sustainable education in east Africa recounted her most recent trip on Community Comment yesterday. Cassie Parkhurst with the Tanzanian Education Project says she and her colleagues are assembling a 35-minute documentary so the people in her hometown – like the service organizations, churches and school kids who contributed -- can see the positive results of their efforts halfway around the world. The 2006 Beaver Dam High School graduate collected a 20-foot crate full of books and school supplies this spring and sent it to Tanzania, where it was used to build four libraries, which is one more than they had planned. Along the way the group dealt with malaria, bacterial infections and worms not to mention political corruption and even the death of a close Tanzanian friend who had founded two of the schools. But in the end Parkhurst says their successes show that you truly can make a difference in the lives of children halfway around the world, if you just try. Parkhurst says this is only the beginning, her fundraising efforts will continue and she will work stateside on a variety of self-sustaining education projects before returning to Tanzania in the next couple years. The documentary should be complete in the next month and Parkhurst plans on holding a public viewing in her hometown. Donations for the Tanzanian Education Project can be made at the National Exchange Bank.

Tanzanian Education Project Documentary Preview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_RN-ugCGb4

West Nile Confirmed in Washington County

9/23/10 - Wisconsin has recorded the year’s first human case of West Nile. State health officials say that a person in neighboring Washington County was confirmed to have the mosquito-borne virus. The person had given blood, and the West Nile was spotted during a routine screening. The patient reported mild symptoms, and the person’s blood was destroyed to keep the virus from getting into the general blood supply. Only a handful of West Nile cases have been reported in recent years, after some Wisconsinites died when the disease was first discovered almost a decade ago. The state only had one confirmed human case in 2009. Most cases are considered to be mild, with symptoms that include rashes, headaches, and fever. Officials say they’ll keep watching for West Nile until the mosquito season ends sometime in October.

Local Hunters Nabbed For Poaching in Montana

9/23/10 - Nine Wisconsin hunters were among 12 people convicted recently as part of a multi-year investigation of illegal hunting activities in Montana. The total amount of fines, bond and restitution collected in the case was $17,416. The 12 defendants also lost a total of 63 years of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges in Wisconsin, Montana and 32 other states that are part of the Interstate Violators Wildlife compact. DNR Warden Paul Nell of Horicon assisted in the investigation along with Montana officials. He says the Wisconsin hunters from West Bend, Campbellsport, Kewaskum and Fond du Lac joined friends and family from Montana in the poaching of large game without a license. A DNR conservation warden from Fond du Lac also assisted in the investigation. Nell says the probe took two years and the convictions were the product of great cooperation between Montana and Wisconsin.

Davis Sentenced In Pharmacy Burglary

9/23/10 - A Beaver Dam man who broke into a Horicon pharmacy last September has was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison. Nathan G. Davis had previously pleaded “no contest” to seven felony charges of burglary, drug possession and bail jumping and had six counts dismissed. It’ll be one year ago tomorrow that officers responded to an alarm at the Marshland Pharmacy at 3 o’clock in the morning. The 34-year-old Davis was seen running from the scene with a hammer and was taken into custody after a brief foot chase. Co-conspirator Andrew Stockwell of Watertown got a nine-month jail sentence after being found in possession of a large duffel bag filled with stolen prescription narcotics at the scene. The eight year prison sentence will begin after Davis finishes a three year prison term for a previous crime. He will also spend 16 years on extended supervision and must pay joint restitution totaling $2700.

Top Stories, September 22nd

Tanzanian Education Project on Community Comment

9/22/10 - Cassie Parkhurst will recount the details of her four-month trip to Tanzania on WBEV’s Community Comment this afternoon. The Beaver Dam woman with the Tanzanian Education Project helped build and fill the shelves of three libraries with books and supplies collected in her hometown. Malaria cut the group’s trip short by about a week but before they left they were able to lay the groundwork for a variety of other sustainable projects in the impoverished east African village. We’ll hear the whole story on 1430AM beginning at 12:35pm.

Randolph Woman Injured in Wreck

9/22/10 - One person was flown from the scene of a two-vehicle accident in Columbia County Tuesday morning. Sheriff Dennis Richards tell us it happened in the Township of Randolph just before 8am. A pick-up truck driven by a Friesland woman was stopped at a stop sign on County EF and pulled into the path of an eastbound passenger car on Highway 33. The Randolph woman driving the passenger car was trapped in the vehicle and the jaws-of-life were needed to free her. She was taken by Med-Flight to UW Hospital in Madison with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The Friesland woman driving the pick-up truck was taken to Beaver Dam Community Hospital where she was treated and released. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts. Friesland Fire and First Responders were at the scene along with Randolph and Cambria EMS and the Randolph Police Department.

DWD Rules in BD Schools Favor


9/22/10 - The Department of Workforce Development has ruled in the favor of the Beaver Dam School District in a case involving a complaint from an employee. Cheryl Grulke filed the complaint under Wisconsin’s Family and Medical Leave Act alleging the district violated her right to return to work as a secretary at the high school after an extended medical leave. In their response, the DWD said there was no probable cause to believe the district violated any part of the act. Superintendent Steve Vessey wasn’t surprised by the ruling, saying the district had confidence that its acted in both a legal and ethical manner when dealing with all human resources issues. Grulke’s attorney, Bob Shumaker, says they plan to appeal the initial determination, saying they disagree with the DWD’s finding that Grulke failed to file a timely complaint. Grulke had worked in the high school for 20 years before going on leave claiming the office she worked in was a hostile environment.

Initial Budget Figures Outlined

9/22/10 - Dodge County taxpayers could see a 19-cent increase to their mill rate. A memo handed out at last nights county board meeting outlines the initial 2011 budget. It includes a tax levy increase of $160,000 that would leave taxpayers with a mill rate of $5.40-per thousand dollars of assessed value. That means a home owner with a property worth $150,000 would pay $810 for the county portion of their tax bill. The full budget book will be given to board members next month with the county’s budget hearing set for November 9th.

DC Board Approves Resolution to Hire New Health Care Workers

9/22/10 - A resolution adopted last night by the Dodge County Board is expected to, among other things, decrease the time it takes to get mental evaluations for adults and children. The board approved the hiring of a half-time psychiatric nurse and a full-time Community Support Case Manager. Human Services and Health Department Director David Titus indicated the positions were in great need say9ing that in some cases people have been waiting up to a year to get mental evaluations. Titus believes there are a couple of reasons for the increased caseload, including the loss of a number of private psychiatric practices in the area. The county hopes to pay for the positions, in part, with money from insurance reimbursements.

Drug ‘Take Back’ This Saturday

9/22/10 - The Beaver Dam Police Department will be conducting a Prescription Drug Collection Saturday morning. Officials say you can drop off unused or expired prescription medications in the police department parking lot from 8am to noon. In case of bad weather, the collection will take place in the lobby of city hall. Lt. John Kreuziger says proper disposal of medications prevents their theft, sale and abuse. It’s also important not to flush pharmaceuticals down the drain and to keep them out of landfills to prevent contamination of the water supply.

Randolph Mulling Grant Funding Options

9/22/10 - The Randolph School District has received just less than $97,000 as part of the Federal Jobs Fund Act. The money is supposed to be used to rehire teachers that were laid off or to hire new staff. But Randolph Superintendent Greg Peyer says they haven’t been forced to lay anyone off. And because of that he and his staff must come up with other ways to use the money in the next year. Hiring additional staff would require finding money in future budgets to pay those salaries once the grant funding runs out. Peyer says they’ll put together a plan and present it to the school board next month for consideration.

North University Reconstruction Wrapping Up

9/22/10 - The North University Avenue reconstruction project in Beaver Dam is wrapping up. The reconstruction project that began in June included complete pavement replacement along with new storm sewers and street lighting. City Engineering Coordinator Ritchie Piltz says the approximately $650,000 came in around $40,000 over budget and a couple weeks behind schedule. He says that’s because of rain delays early in the project and also because the city found that it had some extra storm sewer work to perform. Eighty percent (80%) of the project, including the overage, is coming from the state and federal government. The approximately $8000 that the city is responsible for the overage will come from the Storm Water Utility fund. The road has been open since Saturday but will be closed again on Monday and Tuesday of next week for landscaping work.

MPTC Designated ‘Military-Friendly’

9/22/10 - AMoraine Park Technical College has been designated a “Military Friendly School” according to G.I. Jobs, thereby placing Moraine Park among the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and two year colleges that are doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students. Moraine Park President Gayle Hytrek says, “Moraine Park is honored to be recognized as a military friendly school,” Criteria for making the Military Friendly Schools list included efforts and results in recruiting and retaining military and veteran students, and academic accreditations. Schools on the list offer benefits to student veterans such as on-campus veterans programs, credit for service and military spouse programs. To compile the list, G.I. Jobs, published by Victory Media, polled more than 7,000 schools nationwide. A full story and detailed list of Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools. The website at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com features interactive tools and search functionality to assist military veterans in choosing schools that best meet their personal educational needs. The 2011 list can be viewed at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/list-2011.aspx. With campuses in Beaver Dam, Fond du Lac and West Bend, Moraine Park is one of 16 colleges that make up Wisconsin’s technical colleges. Moraine Park offers more than 100 associate of applied science degrees, technical diplomas, apprenticeships and certificates delivered in a variety of formats — classroom, online and blended. Training and technical assistance for businesses are also offered. For more information about the College, visit www.morainepark.edu.

Dog Breeder Hearings Underway

9/22/10 - The state Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection is holding hearings statewide this week on proposed licensing rules for dog sellers. The rules are part of a state law enacted earlier this year designed to reduce the presence of so-called “puppy mills” in Wisconsin. They will apply to anyone who breeds or sells at least 25 dogs a year from at least three different litters. Donna Gilson with DATCP says the proposed rules include requirements for the living space of animals, access to veterinary care, and proper socialization of the dogs. Breeders or sellers will have to be licensed and submit to annual inspections. The law applies to private sellers, along with humane societies and rescue groups. The hearings will be held in five cities over the next two weeks. Gilson says they’re only looking for feedback on the proposed rules. She says there has already been some early feedback from people wanting the law repealed. However, Gilson says those concerns need to be taken to the Legislature, not DATCP. Lawmakers will have to approve a final version of the rules before they go into effect.

Third Accuser Comes Forward Against Kratz

9/22/10 - A law student has made another accusation against embattled Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz. The Associated Press quoted Maria Ruskiewicz (russ-kah’-witz) as saying she met Kratz in 2008 to talk about a 10-year-old drug conviction. She said the D-A agreed to help her seek a pardon – and then he began sending her racy and harassing text messages. One of them reportedly asked how the woman would please Kratz in bed. The A-P said Ruskiewicz later met with an Oklahoma City University law professor about a response – and she told another Wisconsin prosecutor about Kratz’s behavior. His attorney, Robert Craanen, says he knows nothing about the case. Earlier today, the attorney said another woman’s accusation released by Governor Jim Doyle was “completely ridiculous.” It said Kratz met a woman on Match-Dot-Com earlier this year, gave confidential details of a murder case at dinner, and invited her to the victim’s autopsy. Craanen said the woman’s credibility should be questioned, since she didn’t report the behavior long ago. Kratz has admitted the original allegation made against him last week – that he sent racy texts to a domestic abuse victim last fall while he was prosecuting her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Attorney General J-B Van Hollen said his Justice Department would act as a prosecutor in an upcoming public hearing where Kratz can give his side of the story. Doyle said yesterday he would start the process of removing Kratz, and the hearing is a required step. A Calumet County resident must first file a formal complaint.

State Gets $3.6M For LIHEAP

9/22/10 - Wisconsin is getting three-point-six million dollars in federal emergency funds, to help low-income residents stay warm this winter. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program gave states a total of 100-million-dollars that remained in a contingency fund as Washington’s fiscal year is about to end September 30th. State officials say over 220-thousand Wisconsin homes received heating assistance in the state’s current fiscal year that began last July first.

Distracted Driving Worries Increase

9/22/10 - Most of us are worried about distracted drivers while we’re on the nation’s highways. Eighty-eight percent of American drivers surveyed by Triple A believe texting or e-mailing while driving is a very serious threat to their safety on the roadways, that’s higher than the threat of drunken driving. Fifty-two percent of drivers feel less safe on the roads now than they did five years ago. Beth Mosher with Triple A says among the many driver distractions are texting, sending emails, talking on and dialing cell phones, eating, and even dogs sitting on a driver’s lap. She says people, teens in particular, really need to pay attention. For the first time ever, drunken driving is no longer perceived to be the biggest threat.