Top Stories September 11th

Escape Attempt Discovered in Waupun




9/11/10 - A former Racine County man who kidnapped and attacked his ex-wife six years ago tried to escape from the state prison in Waupun last weekend. Corrections officials said they uncovered what they called a “complex escape plan” by David Larsen. And they thwarted it last Saturday, with the help of the Dodge and Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Departments and the Waupun Police Department. According to a press release, Larsen never left the institution, he remains in segregation in Waupun and at no time was the safety of the community compromised. Officials did not release other details. But the victim, Teri Jendusa-Nicolai, told the Racine Journal Times that Larsen was apparently trying to fake a medical emergency – and authorities knew right away it was a hoax. Dodge County sheriff’s deputies are still investigating the incident, and have notified the Dodge County District Attorney’s to review the case for possible criminal charges. Larsen is serving a 35-year prison term for attempted homicide. He’s also been sentenced to life in a federal prison for kidnapping. Authorities said he lured his ex-wife Jendusa-Nicolai into his home in January of 2004. He beat with her with a baseball bat, and left her for dead in a trash can in a cold storage bin near Chicago, close to where he worked. She lost the baby she was carrying, and part of a foot was amputated because it froze. Jendusa-Nicolai said the escape attempt did not surprise her. She told the Racine paper that Larsen is getting desperate after losing a federal appeal of his life sentence.

Charges Filed Against Beaver Dam Woman

9/11/10 - Formal charges have been filed against a former nursing home employee in Columbus accused of abusing patients. 40-year-old Lori Nussbaum is charged with six felony counts of Intentionally Subjecting an Individual at Risk to Abuse. She used to work at the Columbus Nursing-and-Rehab Center before administrators discovered her alleged behavior and called police. According to authorities, the former nursing assistant pinched the noses of sleeping residents to try-and-cut-off their oxygen. And she allegedly put a pillow over the face of a resident with severe dementia numerous times to try and quiet the person. She reportedly laughed about the incidents with co-workers. The affected patients were all 78-to-85 years old. And officials said they had high levels of need, and limited abilities to communicate. A signature bond was set at $10,000 yesterday and Nussbaum will be back in court on September 24. If convicted, she could spend up to 21 years in prison.

CCH Leader Leaving

9/11/10 - The CEO of the Columbus Community Hospital is leaving. Ed Harding has accepted a position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Bay Area Medical Center in Marinette. He says it was a difficult decision but, in the end, he and his wife decided to move closer to both sets of their aging parents and the rest of their family. Harding, who has been with the hospital for ten years, will stay in Columbus until December 3 to help in planning some strategic initiatives, like the upcoming phase three of their renovation project. A national search for a replacement has already begun and a search firm will identify an interim candidate until a permanent replacement can be found.

Fundraiser for Mayville EMS Tomorrow

9/11/10 - In honor of 9/11, Mayville EMS will be hosting an All You Can Eat Breakfast, Sunday September 12, 2010 from 7:30 am until 1 pm. This is taking place at the American Legion Building, 134 S. Main St in Mayville. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children; with Firemen, EMS, Police Officers, Armed Forces members and Veterans eating for $4. The menu includes Scrambled eggs, French Toast, Pancakes, Sausage, Ham, Coffee Cakes, Breakfast Desserts, Coffee, Juice and Milk.

State and Feds Reach Agreement on Overseas Ballots

9/11/10 - Wisconsin has reached an agreement with the federal government on how the state will comply with a new law to deliver November ballots earlier to overseas voters. The state’s Government Accountability Board and the U-S Justice Department are expected to file a consent decree today. And board spokesman Reid Magney won’t give details until the decree is filed. The law requires troops and other U-S residents overseas to receive November ballots at least 45 days before the election. That means the ballots have to be sent out next Saturday – while Wisconsin and some other states are still finalizing the results from the primaries to be held on Tuesday. Wisconsin asked for a waiver from the new law, but the government said no. In the past, the state’s final November ballot has been available to overseas voters up to 39 days before the election.

Old World Wisconsin Ending Summer on a High Note

9/11/10 - Wisconsin’s largest historic site will celebrate the end of summer next weekend with a classic county fair reminiscent of the 1860’s. Old World Wisconsin near Eagle will host the event September 18th-and-19th. The fair will include a plowing contest, a barn dance, a band contest, livestock judging, and displays of old-time flowers and farm implements. And of course, there will be lots of food – including a picnic that will remind people of the old-time county fairs. It’s expected to be a triumphant event after a trying year for Old World Wisconsin. The site was closed for several weeks after a tornado touched down there in late June.

Man Says Country Music Star Threatened Him

9/11/10 - A 29-year-old Fond du Lac man claims a country music star left a threat to kill him on his cell phone. The man told police this past Wednesday that he got three calls from Nashville, Tennessee including a voicemail. The man alleges that the message came from Jake Owen. He explained to police that his soon to be ex-wife and Owen are friends and their families would sometimes vacation together during the summer in Florida. The Fondy man played the message for an officer and it said in part, “You think it’s cool to put your fist on a woman’s face. I know where you are. I know where you live. I’m going to [expletive deleted] kill you.” The man told police Owen probably didn’t realize he was in Wisconsin. He said he wanted to document the threat with police.