Top Stories November 23rd

Late Fall Storm Brings Hail, At Least 1 Tornado


11/23/10 - Several hundred electric customers were still without power this morning in Walworth and Racine counties. That's where at least one and maybe two rare November tornadoes touched down yesterday afternoon. We Energies said over seven-thousand customers were without power at the height of the storms. The National Weather Service confirmed an E-F-One tornado near Fontana in Walworth County, where four homes and four farm buildings were damaged. Today, officials will determine if a second tornado touched down in the Union Grove area of Racine County. Trucks were blown over and debris was pushed onto Interstate-94, which was closed for a time during the afternoon rush hour. Two people are in stable condition at a Racine hospital after being hurt in storm-related traffic mishaps. In our area we saw hail as big as three-quarters of an inch but no significant damage was reported. The storms ended a warm spell in which Juneau hit 60-degrees, breaking the previous record of 57 set in 1999. And Watertown hit 66-degrees, another record and also tied for the highest temperature in the state yesterday.

Meanwhile, icy conditions caused havoc yesterday in far northwest Wisconsin. The Weather Service said ice pellets fell near Grantsburg, creating a glaze that was covered up by snow. And that made roads extremely hazardous. Duluth got more than a half-foot of snow. But the Wisconsin side only had about two-inches or less. Cornucopia - the state's northern-most community west of Bayfield - had the most with two-inches. Superior had a half-inch. Dry and much colder weather is in today's forecast. It's only supposed to be in the 20's-and-30's statewide.

Hunting Numbers Up from 2009

11/23/10 - Wisconsin hunters shot over six-percent more deer than a year ago on the opening weekend of the nine-day gun season. The D-N-R's preliminary count showed that 106-thousand-404 deer were registered Saturday and Sunday. That's up from about 100-thousand a year ago - which was down dramatically from 2008. The numbers are even higher in Dodge County where hunters bagged a total of 1,419 deer, a 51-percent increase over 2009. Other area counties were up too including Fond du Lac County at 35-percent, Columbia County at 11-percent and Jefferson County at 6.5-percent. The D-N-R's Tom Hauge said there were good hunting conditions on Saturday, with snow in northwest Wisconsin that improved visibility. But Ed Harvey, the head of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, said he was not impressed with the numbers. He said the statewide figures don't mean anything because the weather conditions and deer densities vary too much. No deaths have been reported so far. Four hunters were wounded by bullets on Saturday, and one Sunday.

Man Seen Taking Photos at Chemical Storage Plant

11/23/10 - It sounds a bit like a movie plot; a man with a foreign accent is seen taking photographs near a chemical storage facility and when he's confronted he gets in his car and takes off. The difference is it happened Sunday night near the Quad Graphics plant in Lomira. Dodge County Sheriff's officials issued a special bulletin to area law enforcement to step up patrols. Sheriff Todd Nehls says what the man was doing could have been innocent, but on the other hand it might have been serious. The man was driving a PT Cruiser, but license plate on the vehicle didn't match any registered in the state. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)

BD May Consider Sex Offender Residency Ordinance

11/23/10 - Officials in Beaver Dam may soon be considering an ordinance that would restrict where sex offenders are able to live. The matter has not yet been discussed in committee, but City Attorney Mary Ann Schacht drafted a basic ordinance at the request of a resident. Lance Wiersma - the Director of Sex Offender Programs for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections - addressed a recent meeting of the Common Council. Wiersma warned that enacting sex offender residency requirements may have unforeseen consequences like homelessness, lawsuits and higher rates of re-offending. He says studies have shown that proximity to schools and parks are not associated with recidivism and he says offenders with positive support systems are less likely to re-offend.

At the same meeting, Sun Prairie Alderman Zach Weber spoke about the residency ordinance that was adopted in his city in October of 2008. Weber – who has family in Beaver Dam - says they’ve gotten rid of eight to 10 sex offenders and there have been no lawsuits and no homelessness. He says his concern is not with the Corrections Department having to do more work but the safety of his family and the community. The proposed sex offender residency ordinance would prohibit offenders from living within 1500 feet of a school, playground, daycare, church, movie theater and a variety of other public and private locations where children congregate.

76 Trees Targeted In Lake Shore Drive Project

11/23/10 - There would be 76 trees removed as part of the proposed Lake Shore Drive Reconstruction project in Beaver Dam. The Operations Committee approved a design plan last night that includes a nine foot terrace, that’s the area between a sidewalk and the street. The committee also considered the possibility of installing a five foot terrace, which would require the removal of 54 trees. Chair Laine Meyer says because the difference is minimal the committee felt the city should follow the established nine-foot terrace policy in place for new construction.

City officials also learned recently that the costs for the Lake Shore Drive project – and all road projects beginning January 1 – could be higher because of new DNR guidelines. City Engineering Coordinator Ritchie Piltz says the DNR wants to all new street construction to include storm water detention ponds or roadside swales. Piltz says the guidelines would apply to Beaver Dam because the installation of curb, gutter and sidewalk changes the street from rural use to urban use. If the city has final designs submitted to the DNR by year’s end they would not be subject to the new guidelines. Meyer says even the extra costs are incurred, the Lake Shore Drive project is a matter of public safety and would need to move forward. The reconstruction from Oneida to Denning would include curb and gutter, decorative street lighting and sidewalk installation on both sides of the street. A public information meeting will be held next week in advance of an official public hearing one week later.

Randolph Residents To Receive Survey

11/23/10 - Randolph residents should expect a survey in their mailbox later this month that will try and gauge their feelings about the two referenda questions that failed in the election. Superintendent Greg Peyer says questions included on the survey, among others, will be how did you vote, why did you vote that way, and would you be open to some type of other referendum. The school board will then review the answers in early December with a possible decision on where to go in the future by early January.

Two Beaver Dam Men Charged With Stealing Scrap Metal

11/23/10 - Two Beaver Dam men face felony Theft charges for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of scrap metal. 34-year-old Jason Woodke and 22-year-old Joseph Evans are accused of stealing 50 stainless steel sheets weighing 50 pounds each from Supreme Manufacturing in Beaver Dam last May. The two were apprehended after selling the scrap to a company in Washington County. According to the criminal complaint, Woodke admitted to selling the scrap and he faces up to ten years in prison if convicted. Evans reportedly admitted to being the driver and faces up to three-and-a-half years. Both men had signature bonds set at $1000 yesterday and have preliminary hearing scheduled next month.

Robbery in Lomira

11/22/10 - Police in Lomira are investigating a robbery that occurred yesterday afternoon at a gas station on Milwaukee Street. It happened around 3 p-m at Coles BP Lomira. Authorities say the suspect was wearing a brown ski mask and told workers he had a gun. The suspect, described as a white man in his mid 50s to early 60s, stole an undetermined amount of cash and fled north on Highway 175 in a late model 1980's car that was said to be light in color. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lomira Police Department or the anonymous WE-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.