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.