Friday, December 31, 2010

Top Stories, New Years Eve

Dense Fog Advisory In Effect Until 6pm

12/31/10 - Travelers today may want to be more cautious. The National Weather Service has issued a Dense Fog Advisory until 6pm for a handful of counties in our listening area. We will also be getting some rain and for New Year’s Day some scattered flurries as temperatures turn colder. Dodge, Jefferson, Columbia, Dane, Fond du Lac, Green Lake counties are among those included in the Dense Fog Advisory.

WSP Warns of Drinking and Driving

12/31/10 - If you plan to partake in New Year’s bubbly or other alcoholic beverages, also plan to turn in your car keys. If you get behind the wheel after having too much to drink this holiday season, Wisconsin State Patrol Major Dan Lonsdorf says be prepared for an encounter with someone in uniform. He says if an officer smells alcohol, or observes bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and reduced dexterity, you can look forward to a longer conversation with that officer.

We-Tip Not Available In 2011

12/31/10 - The New Year is brining an end to Dodge County’s involvement with the anonymous We-Tip hotline. Sheriff Todd Nehls says necessary budget reductions resulted in elimination of the crime reporting service for 2011. He says the toll-free, anonymous crime reporting tip line has been the conduit for numerous crime tips which have generated information that has led to the arrest and conviction of numerous crimes in the county since 2003. Nehls says he hopes to restore the $5200 annual cost for the program in the 2012 budget.

New Years Brings New Landfill Rules

12/31/10 - Starting tomorrow (Saturday), two more items go on the list of things banned from Wisconsin landfills. They are used oil filters from vehicles, and cloths, rags and other products that absorb oil. State lawmakers passed the landfill ban on oil filters and absorbent products. The DNR has been working on putting the ban in place. The DNR's Dan Fields says Wisconsin already bans oil, steel and paper from garbage dumps. He says a number of companies will pick up used oil filters at automotive repair shops and oil change centers, and recycle the filters. He says if by chance you still change your own car's oil filter, many auto parts stores will accept a used filter. And there's much to recycle from one small filter, including at least four ounces of oil. Fields estimates there are 9-million oil changes involving filters in Wisconsin every year, including those for farm tractors and ATV's. He doesn't think car owners will see much in the way of increased costs from the landfill ban. He says the DNR is hearing some complaints from repair shops about having to keep out of landfills the rags, cloths and granular absorbents used to mop up oil. But he says homeowners who spill up to a gallon of oil on their garage floor while working on a project can throw oily rags or towels into their garbage cart.

Walker Announces Cabinet

12/31/10 - Governor-elect Scott Walker announced his cabinet Thursday, in advance of an early afternoon news conference. In a statement, the Republican Walker called his department heads “top-notch individuals” who will help achieve his goal of creating a quarter-million jobs by 2015.
• State Assembly Republican Mike Huebsch is the new administration secretary. He’s a former Assembly Speaker from the La Crosse area.
• Former Green Bay Mayor and chamber executive Paul Jadin will be the commerce secretary. Walker says he’ll help convert the agency into a new public-private department focused on creating jobs.
• Dennis Smith, former head of the U-S Centers for Medicare-and-Medicaid, will run the state health services department.
• Former builder and state Senator Cathy Stepp will head the D-N-R. She told employees today she’ll work to improve customer service – and make it easier for businesses to get environmental permits.
• Assembly Republican Mark Gottlieb of Port Washington is the new transportation secretary. He was an engineer for 20 years before being elected to the Legislature.
• Former Revenue Secretary Rick Chandler will return to that post.
• Former state lawmaker and Agriculture Secretary Ben Brancel will re-assume the ag post.
• Eloise Anderson was named as the Children-and-Families secretary. She has held a number of public-and-private posts in Wisconsin, and was California’s head of social services.
• Manny Perez is the new Workforce Development secretary. He has co-owned a staffing firm, and previously held other labor posts including mediator.
• Former Dane County sheriff and state Justice official Gary Hamblin is the new corrections secretary.
• 30-year financial services veteran Peter Bildsten will run the state Department of Financial Institutions.
• Stephanie Klett, host of the “Discover Wisconsin” T-V show, will head the tourism deparment.
• Superior Mayor Dave Ross, who ran and lost for lieutenant governor this year, is the new regulation-and-licensing secretary.
• And community development executive Wyman Wynston will head the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.
All Cabinet posts require Senate confirmation. Special elections will be scheduled for the appointed legislators once they take their new posts.

Doyle Pardons At 177

12/31/10 - Outgoing Governor Jim Doyle has pardoned 74 convicted criminals in the last two weeks, bringing the total for the year to 177. That’s much more than in any of his previous seven years in office. And Doyle’s pardons since December 15th were more than the 51 he granted in all of 2009. None of the latest pardons appear to involve prominent or politically-connected people. Their crimes ranged from fleeing police to second-degree sexual assault. Doyle was recently criticized by Republicans for the numbers of pardons he granted. But he did not approve them all. Doyle did not act on a pardon request from the late Laurie Bembenek, the former Milwaukee police officer convicted of killing her former husband’s ex-wife in the early 1980’s. Bembenek tried for years to clear her name before she died in November. Also, the governor refused to commute a pair of 80-year prison sentences in a pair of Milwaukee robberies. State pardons do not remove convictions – but they restore rights such as voting, gun ownership, and the ability to get state licenses.

Organic Beef Recall

12/31/10 - A California meat packer has recalled almost 35-thousand pounds of organic ground beef sold in Wisconsin and five other states. First Class Foods of Hawthorne is recalling beef that might have been contaminated with E-coli bacteria. The U-S-D-A said the problem was found during a normal sampling process. Officials said they no reports yet of anyone getting sick from the product. It involves First Class organic ground beef sold from December seventh-through-the-16th. It has a sampling number of E-S-T 1-8-8-9-5. Those with questions are asked to call Lucienne Adams of First Class Foods. Here’s her phone number – 1-310-676-2500.

Cougar Attack Investigated Near Deerfield

12/31/10 - The state D-N-R is trying to find evidence that a cougar attacked and killed a horse at a stable in Dane County this week. An employee at the Freedom Stables near Deerfield found the horse dead on Wednesday. A veterinarian said the horse’s major neck artery and air passage-way were both too deep for a machine to do it – and it looked like the attack was a single swipe. Also, the stable’s owners said they saw tracks that appeared to be from a large cat. But D-N-R warden Barbara Wold says her investigators don’t have proof of that yet. As of mid-August, the state confirmed the presence of four cougars in Wisconsin within the last two years. All were male, and one attacked a dairy cow in Juneau County earlier this year. It was the first assault of its kind in the Badger State since the 1800’s.

Suspect Leaves Drink At Crime Scene

12/31/10 - A Lomira man accused of stealing from his neighbor was tied to the crime after investigators say he left a key piece of evidence at the scene: his drink. 51-year-old Thomas H. Brace is accused of breaking into the apartment of his neighbor, who was just moving into the unit at the time of the burglary on Halloween. A tool box and bag of tools were among the items taken. After the victim noted that his neighbor was a heavy drinker and might be responsible, deputies attempted to make contact with Brace. According to the criminal complaint, a deputy saw the stolen contraband inside the suspect’s apartment. The deputy reportedly called Brace’s cell phone, heard it being turned off, and then saw Brace lying down in front of his closed door. The stolen tools were then allegedly moved out of site. When questioned about leaving a Green Bay Packers pint glass of whiskey with fresh ice cubes in the victim’s apartment, Brace reportedly said to investigators (quote) “Oh, that’s not good, I must have left that in there.” Brace faces a maximum sentence of over 13-years in prison if convicted on the felony Burglary and misdemeanor Theft charges. A signature bond was set at $1000 this week and a preliminary hearing is scheduled in February.


Thursday, December 30, 2010

Top Stories, December 30th

Numerous Rollovers and Runoffs Reported

12/301/0 - The Dodge County Sheriffs Department is reporting numerous run-offs and rollovers resulting from slick driving conditions related to the early winter thaw. The reports stared coming in just before 6pm last night and continued into the morning hours. The most serious occurred just after 11pm in the Town of Chester. A 24-year-old male and his 22-year-old female passenger were transported to Waupun Memorial Hospital following a rollover on State Highway 26.The driver was cited for Driving Too Fast For Conditions. The Sheriffs Department is also reporting multiple snowmobile patrol DNR checks.

Snowmobile Trails Closed

12/30/10 - Our early winter thaw has led to the closing of snowmobile trails in Dodge, Columbia and Fond du Lac Counties. All zones of the Dodge County Snowmobile Trail are also closed due to deteriorating trail conditions. The Dodge County ATV trail along the Wild Goose Trail from Highway 60 to Highway 49 is also closed to prevent trail damage. Columbia County trails are also closed until the region gets more snow and freezing temperatures. Jefferson County trails have been closed since before Christmas. Meanwhile, ATV riding on the Eisenbahn Trail in Fond du Lac County is only permitted when the ground is frozen and the temperature is 28 degrees or lower.

Manure Spreading Discouraged

12/30/10 - The state Agriculture Department is asking farmers to avoid spreading manure on their fields for the next couple days. Officials say the rain and the melting snow will flow easily on the frozen ground – and that creates the risk of run-off into lakes and streams, causing problems with water quality. If farmers must spread manure because of a lack of storage, officials urge them to choose fields with no snow cover and minimum slopes if possible. County land conservation officials can help with alternatives. Acting Dane County Executive Scott McDonell says he’s concerned about avoiding fish kills due to run-off – and he’s asking everyone who manages manure to be extra careful the next few days.

Lynch Prelim Set For February

12/30/10 - Former Fox Lake Police Chief Pat Lynch was back in a Dodge County courtroom Wednesday in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 7-year-old child more than 20-years ago. The 54-year-old was arrested last week following an investigation by the state Department of Justice and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department. Lynch had a continued Initial Appearance on the felony charges this morning and had a preliminary hearing moved from tomorrow to February 1, 2011 before Dodge County Judge Andrew Bissonnette. Lynch is charged with one count of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 13 and three counts of Stalking. The alleged sexual assault occurred in the summer of 1989 at home in Randolph. The victim’s father was friends with Lynch, who was an officer with the Randolph Police Department at the time. In the criminal complaint, the victim says that Lynch would drive past her home when she was in high school and show up at her place of employment at least early 2008. A second stalking count came as a result of numerous alleged altercations between Lynch and the former boyfriend of his ex-wife. The criminal complaint states the two got in a shoving match in a bar in 2005 and a fight at the ex-wife’s home, which resulted in charges against the boyfriend and a four-day suspension for Lynch. The complaint also states Lynch also followed the boyfriend around Fox Lake in his squad car while serving as the police chief. The third count relates to a former Fox Lake Police Department employee who says Lynch stalked her after she left the department, including driving past her home as many as ten times per day, coming into her home uninvited and stopping by her place of employment. Lynch resigned from his job as police chief in Fox Lake in the spring of 2009. Assistant Attorney General Dennis R. Krueger is representing the state as a special prosecutor for Dodge County.

BDPD Investigates Second Tavern Break-In

12/30/10 - The Beaver Dam Police Department is investigating the second break-in a local tavern in less than one week. Management with The Cellar on Rowell Street reported a break-in to police Tuesday morning that would have occurred during the overnight hours. The first break-in was discovered Christmas morning. In both cases the establishment was ransacked and extensive damage was reported in the upstairs ballroom and downstairs bar. Lt. John Kreuzinger says detectives are investigating the possibility that the two break-ins are related. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department.

Waupun Man Charged in Break-In

12/30/10 - A Waupun man accused of rifling through vehicles and garages had a cash bond set at $500 during an Initial Appearance Wednesday in Dodge County court. Christopher McCullough allegedly broke into a garage in Waupun in September and stole electronic equipment, cash and gift certificates. The 32-year-old was arrested while walking the streets of Waupun at 4am and connected to the crime through stolen gift certificates said to be in his possession. McCullough denied taking them and told police they were given to him by the actual burglar. He faces over 13 years in prison, if convicted. McCullough will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on January 13. Meanwhile, McCullough is being held in the Fond du Lac County Jail on two counts of issuing worthless checks. He has a plea and sentencing hearing in that case next Tuesday.

We Energy Bills On The Rise

12/301/0 - Wisconsin’s biggest electric utility will have some big rate increases when the New Year begins. We Energies provides service for southern and far eastern Dodge County in addition to Jefferson and Washington counties. They say industrial and large business customers can expect to pay 13-percent more. Most other businesses face an 8-to-10-percent rate hike. And residents will pay just under five-percent more. We Energies’ customers have been getting credits on their bills for the last three years, after the utility sold its share of the Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant near Two Rivers. But those credits expire on Saturday. Todd Stuart of the Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group said his members knew it was coming, but it still hurts. He said one large company faces a 20-percent increase in its electric costs. We Energies has contacted 20-thousand business customers to warn them about the impending increase. It will also be explained to everyone in their next bills. The utility shared 700-million-dollars in proceeds from the Point Beach plant sale. It netted We Energies just over a billion dollars. Brian Manthey of We Energies says companies should analyze their bills to make sure they’re in the correct rate class. He said the recession might have dropped some of them down a notch.

Columbus Schools Focus On Technology

12/30/10 - Columbus Schools are emphasizing technology in 2011. Superintendent Bryan Davis told the School Board that students are more likely to know more about communications technology than most adults…and he says that is a good thing. Davis said technology devices in schools were not as important to student learning as the knowledge of how digital systems can be used. A District-wide technology plan has been under development since September.

Grothman Criticized Over 4K Comments

12/30/10 - Madison’s school superintendent says it’s “very troubling” that a G-O-P lawmaker wants to prevent the city’s district and others from starting four-year-old kindergarten. Senate Republican Glenn Grothman of West Bend said yesterday that the state should stop paying for new programs like those planned for Madison. Grothman said taxpayers cannot afford them. And he cited a study showing that fourth-graders in Oklahoma and Georgia continue to have poor test scores, more than a decade after those states began four-year-old kindergarten. But Madison Superintendent Dan Nerad said there are plenty of studies which show it’s a good idea to invest in youngsters as early as possible. Beth Graue of U-W Madison cites a 2005 Northstar Economics study showing that every dollar spent on four-year-old kindergarten saves 68-cents elsewhere – because early childhood education reduces the need for more expensive special-ed programs. Lawmakers tried twice to drop state funding for four-year-old kindergarten – but Republican Governor Scott McCallum vetoed it in 2001, and Democrat Jim Doyle did the same in ’03. Eighty-five percent of Wisconsin school systems now have four-year-old kindergarten – and over 40-thousand youngsters are enrolled statewide.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Top Stories, December 29th

Air Quality Watch In Effect

12/29/10 - The state D-N-R has put 26 counties under an Air Quality Watch until seven tomorrow morning. The southeast third of the state is included – including Dodge, Columbia, Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Jefferson and Washington counties. Officials say particle pollution could reach harmful levels for the very young, the very old, and those with heart-and-lung diseases. Warm-and-heavier air is being pumped into Wisconsin from the south today – and the D-N-R says it will prevent fine particles from flowing like they normally do. Those particles come from things like power plants and vehicles. Officials encourage people with breathing problems to avoid outdoor activities today and tonight.

Municipal Non-Candidacy Filings

12/29/10 - All three incumbent candidates on the Mayville Common Council are not seeking another term. Al Voss and E. Jay Gering have filed non-candidacy papers and Scott Mastalish tells us he will not be seeking a second term prior to this weeks deadline. In Horicon, Third District Alderman Nathan Anfinson filed his non-candidacy papers. In Columbus, Alderman Bill Bruns is giving up his Third District seat. In Waupun, District One Alderman Dale Schmidt said last week that he would not run, and two other candidates are now circulating papers. In Watertown, there will be three incumbents who are not returning; two because of term limits. District 9 Alderman Brad Blanke is eligible to run under city ordinance but will not be returning. All incumbent candidates in Beaver Dam and Fox Lake will be seeking re-election. In Beaver Dam, alderpersons in odd numbered wards are running and that includes Donna Fuhrman, Glen Link, Robert Ballweg, Lisa Davidson, Jon Litscher and Laine Meyer. Fifth Ward Alderman Aaron Onsrud is the only candidate that is currently facing opposition. Former Alderman Mick Fischer has submitted all his nomination papers. The election will be held April 5.

Watertown Man IDed In Jail Suicide

12/29/10 - A Jefferson County Jail inmate who took his own life on the night after Christmas has been identified as 30-year-old Clint Tourbier of Watertown. Officials said he was found unresponsive on Sunday night. He was not on any special type of watch. A medical examiner said Tourbier died from asphyxia caused by hanging. He was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, after being arrested last Wednesday on possible counts of third-degree sexual assault, misdemeanor battery, and bail jumping.

Mueller Gets Life In Redmer Murder

12/29/10 - A Brookfield man who strangled-and-burned his girlfriend, and dumped her ashes in Lake Winnebago, will spend the rest of his life in prison. 37-year-old Brandon Mueller was given no chance for a future release when he was sentenced yesterday by Fond du Lac County Circuit Judge Robert Wirtz. The girlfriend, 28-year-old Renee Redmer of Waukesha, disappeared almost two years ago. No one knew where she was until Mueller admitted to a friend that he strangled her at his mother’s home in Fond du Lac. The mother, Nancy Pinno – and the friend, Donald Worth – both helped Mueller burn the body in a barrel and dumped the remains in Lake Winnebago. Worth eventually told police what happened. Pinno got eight years in prison for her role, and Worth six years. The murder resulted from a fight between Mueller and his girlfriend, after he flushed her heroin down a toilet. Before the slaying, he was convicted of assaulting women in four other cases.

Fondy Man Charged In Infant Death

12/29/10 - A Fond du Lac man is due back in court next week on charges that he caused head injuries which killed his girlfriend’s 18-month-old daughter. According to prosecutors, 22-year-old Tyler Jackson first claimed that young Chloe Gessner fell down six stairs – and he found her coughing on the floor with a bloody mouth and nose. But Doctor Alice Swanson of Milwaukee Children’s Hospital said the girl had one of the worst cases of brain damage she had ever seen – and falling down six stairs would not have been nearly enough to cause it. Jackson later told officers he was swinging the girl by her feet, so she would land while sitting on a love-seat – and her head apparently hit a padded portion of the furniture too hard. He said he was doing the quote, “airplane thing” – and his girlfriend warned him before about playing too rough with the child. In his court appearance next Thursday, a judge is expected to decide if there’s enough evidence to order a trial.

Campbellsport Man Charged In Firearms Incident

12/29/10 - A signature bond was set yesterday when a 51-year-old Campbellsport man was charged for shooting off a rifle and handgun in the parking lot of the apartment building where he lives. Leo Alonge was charged with a misdemeanor count of discharging a firearm within 100 yards of a building. No one was hurt during the incident late last Saturday morning. He allegedly shot seven rounds from the rifle and one from a handgun. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for January 12 and a plea and sentencing hearing for February 1.

Teen Charged In Parks & Rec Break-In

12/29/10 - A teen accused of breaking into the Beaver Dam Parks and Recreation building on Christmas Eve had cash bond set at $1000 during an Initial Appearance yesterday. Donny J. Lafferty is charged with felony burglary and trespass. Authorities say they responded to a silent alarm at the city-owned building on West South Street just after 4am and allegedly found the 18-year-old inside and he was taken into custody. Lafferty told authorities that he was bored and jumped over the fence behind his residence. He said he had only been in the unlocked building for five minutes and did not plan on stealing anything. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 13.

Winter Parking Rules Unchanged in Horicon

12/29/10 - Winter parking rules will be staying the same in Horicon, for now anyway. City officials have been discussing the possibility of repealing the current ordinance in committee for the last year. For the past two seasons, Horicon residents have been prohibited from parking on any city streets between 2am and 6am from the beginning of December until the end of March. Resident Randy Benway gathered over 80 signatures from residents who say it’s unfair to ticket residents if the snow plows are not operating. The proposed ordinance would only prohibit parking after an inch or more of snow falls and only until the roadway is cleared. It is similar to the old and now defunct ordinance that outlawed parking for 24-hours after a major snow event. Alderman Steve Neitzel says the proposed ordinance is the worst of all three. Neitzel says people refused to follow the rules before and the current ordinance is simpler to understand. After a lengthy discussion last night on the council floor, the proposed winter parking ordinance was tabled indefinitely, much to the disappointment of Mayor James Grigg. He and Public Works Chair John Flouro say they’d like to see it come back again for a vote before next winter. Horicon residents who have overnight guests who require on-street parking in the winter are encouraged to contact the police department to make temporary arrangements and avoid a $40 ticket.

Frozen Road Law In Effect

12/29/10 - Trucks that carry forest products, road salt, and sand can carry heavier loads in southeast Wisconsin starting Wednesday. The annual “Frozen Road Law” took effect in the rest of the state on December 17th, and it began in the southeast at 12:01 a-m this morning. Heavier weight limits apply to forest-and-winter maintenance trucks on all state-and-federal highways except the Interstates. But it does include I-39 from Portage to Wausau. The Frozen Road Law stays in effect until early March, unless thawing justifies an earlier ending.

New BD Chief Eager To Begin Work

12/29/10 - The city of Beaver Dam’s new police chief will be settling into the area after the New Year. Ronald Smith with the Norwalk, Connecticut Police Department was selected by the Police and Fire Commission this month over three other finalists. Smith told city officials during the most recent common council meeting that he is was an honor to be selected for the position and he looking forward to the opportunity to serve the people of Beaver Dam. He says he has already had an opportunity to tour the department and meet with officers and staff. Smith says he is impressed with the number of multiple tasks that each officer performs. Smith will begin his job in mid-January.

St. Anna Memorial Tonight Honors Koeser

12/29/10 - Firefighters will gather in St. Anna in Calumet County tonight to dedicate a memorial to Steven “Peanut” Koeser who died when a dumpster exploded while he and others were fighting a fire at Bremer Manufacturing a year ago today. Eight others were injured during that incident. Badger Firefighters Association President Ron Naab says the tragedy could have torn the small fire department apart, but St. Anna firefighters weathered that storm and have actually added five new members over the past year. The ceremony at the St. Anna Fire Department will begin at 7pm.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Top Stories, December 28th

Waupun Teen Killed in Collision

12/28/10 - A 14-year-old girl was killed in a two-vehicle accident Monday morning in Waupun. Authorities say it happened at the intersection of Highway 26 and Clagget Avenue around 9:30 a-m. The initial investigation shows a Toyota Camry, driven by 16-year-old Clayton Scheer, was westbound on Clagget Avenue, with the girl, Taylor Lackey of Waupun, when they collided with a Chevy Blazer going southbound on Highway 26. Lackey was pronounced dead at the scene. Scheer and the 89-year-old driver of the Blazer, Edwin Hull of Waupun, were removed from their vehicles with the help of the Jaws of Life and taken to Waupun Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department Crash Investigation Team in cooperation with the Waupun Police Department.

Watertown Man Commits Suicide in Jail

12/28/10 - Jefferson County authorities are investigating the self-inflicted death of a jail inmate. A 31-year-old Watertown man was found dead Sunday night in a part of the jail that was outside his cell. It was the second suicide at the Jefferson County Jail this year. The first was in January – and the last one before that was around 8-to-10 years ago.

Mueller Sentencing This Afternoon

12/28/10 - A Fond du Lac County judge this afternoon will sentence a 37-year-old Brookfield man for the January 2009 murder of Renee Redmer. A jury found Brandon Mueller guilty of the 28-year-old Waukesha woman’s death during Mueller’s trial in October. Redmer was strangled at the Fond du Lac apartment of Mueller’s mother Nancy Pinno. Pinno and an acquaintance, Donald Worth of Van Dyne, are already serving prison time for helping Mueller disposed of the body of the young mother of two.

Lynch In Court Again This Week

12/28/10 - Former Fox Lake Police Chief Patrick Lynch will be back in court later this week to answer to charges that he sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl over 20 years ago. Lynch was also charged in Dodge County Court last week with stalking and paid a $25,000 cash bond for his release. According to court records the alleged assault date backs to 1989 and the stalking incidents occurred in 2004 and 2007. The 54-year-old Lynch has a Review Hearing tomorrow (Wed) and a preliminary hearing scheduled on Thursday. An Assistant Attorney General is serving as special prosecutor for the case.

CN Freight Jumps Tracks

12/28/10 - Canadian National Railroad officials are trying to figure out why 11 empty freight cars jumped the tracks in Neenah. It happened early yesterday morning on the railroad’s main-line through the city, close to the Neenah railroad yard. No one was hurt, and the only damage was to railroad property. C-N spokesman Patrick Waldron said seven cars toppled over after leaving the tracks. They had been used to ship potash. The cars were part of a 99-car train heading from Gary Indiana to Stevens Point. Repairs were expected to be finished last night. The main line stayed open, but trains by-passed the damaged portion of the line until it was fixed.

Booze and Belts Stats Released

12/28/10 - Results are in for the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department’s participation in the recent “Boozed and Belts” traffic safety enforcement effort. During traffic stops there were 8 drunken driving arrests, 240 speeding tickets written, 15 safety belt citations, and 23 people were cited for operating with revoked or suspended licenses. There was also one felony arrest.

Cook, Customers Rescue Delivery Driver

12/28/10 - A restaurant cook and his customers near Sheboygan were heroes yesterday, when they saved a delivery driver who got trapped under his truck. It happened about six a-m behind Judy’s Restaurant in the town of Wilson. 68-year-old Jerry Timm of Sheboygan was delivering doughnuts when he walked out of his van while it was in “neutral” instead of “park.” It rolled backwards, and he tried to stop the vehicle when it rolled onto one of his legs, and pinned him under the left front wheel. Timm said he screamed for help – and when he realized nobody could hear him, he pulled out his cell phone and called 9-1-1. A Sheboygan County sheriff’s deputy arrived – and a customer noticed the lights from the squad car. Waitress Marie Glander then went out to see what kind of help was needed. And cook Eric Perez and several customers joined the deputy in lifting the vehicle to free Timm. It took two tries, but they finally did it. He was taken to a hospital, where he learned that nothing was broken. Timm says it’s really bruised, and he’ll need to ice it up for the next few days. Glander said the customers’ response was “awesome,” and Timm said he really appreciated the help. He knows it could have been a lot worse.

Santa Foils Counterfeit Attempt

12/28/10 - In West Allis, Santa Claus is a crime stopper. A man who’s accused of trying to get change for a fake 100-dollar bill was stopped by Santa on Christmas Eve. Greg Steffek was dressed as Santa Claus when a Milwaukee man allegedly walked into Steffek’s bar and handed over the counterfeit bill for a shot and 95 dollars in change. When his son checked the bill he noticed the watermarks were missing, which led to Santa Claus grabbing the man and holding on until police arrested the suspect – along with two other people in a suspected getaway vehicle.

Mom Has Baby Born on Christmas, Again

12/28/10 - For the second time in two years, a southern Wisconsin family celebrated the birth of their own baby on Christmas. 20-year-old Brianna Whitney of Waterloo had a boy named Logan on Saturday – exactly two years and 10 minutes after she had a girl, Kyra Jensen. Neither baby was due on Christmas. Logan was not expected until January fifth – and Kyra was due January 21st of 2009. Both were delivered by the same obstetrician at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Madison. The children’s grandmother, Donna Higgins of Sun Prairie, said she’s overwhelmed thinking about all the gifts she’ll need for next Christmas.

Budget Deficit Lower Than Projected

12/28/10 - Wisconsin got some good economic news yesterday. The state’s budget deficits will be smaller than expected, as the result of new economic growth and an extension of the Bush tax cuts. State officials say they’ll collect 57-million-dollars more than their last projection for the current budget that runs until June 30th. And tax collections will be 235-million-dollars higher than expected for the next two-year state budget period that begins July first. Experts say the national economy will grow by three-percent next year, due mainly to the recent federal tax compromise. And John Koskinen of the state Revenue Department says it should also translate to a stronger state economy. He says projections for Wisconsin’s personal income are also higher. The news comes as Governor-elect Scott Walker tries to balance a current state budget that was 150-million-dollars in the red – and a budget for the next two years that was three-point-three billion in the hole. Cullen Werwie of Walker’s transition team says more sustained economic growth will be needed to balance the budget, along with cuts in state spending. Incoming G-O-P finance co-chair Robin Vos says yesterday’s report might eliminate the need for a last-minute repair bill to balance the current budget – but that still remains to be seen.

DC Awards $23M For Badger Care

Wisconsin got the federal government’s second-biggest reward for enrolling kids who were eligible for tax-funded Medicaid, and were not getting it. That was a major goal of Badger-Care-Plus, which added 85-thousand eligible youngsters in the last fiscal year. Because of that, the federal government gave state health officials a 23-million-dollar bonus yesterday. It was the second-highest among 15 states that shared 206-million dollars in bonuses from the national Children’s Health Insurance program. Jon Peacock of the Wisconsin Council on Children-and-Families said a major stigma was removed when Badger-Care-Plus was fashioned to serve all Wisconsin children. He also said a new on-line renewal option helped the Badger State get the award. Peacock says the bonus will help reduce a 300-million-dollar deficit in the state’s Medicaid budget for the next two years. Alabama got the biggest bonus, with 55-million dollars. Governor-elect Scott Walker and legislative Republicans have talked about scaling back public health programs, and make sure that only the state’s most vulnerable families receive them. Walker’s office says he’s still being briefed on the state’s Medicaid programs.

Rain, Floods in Forecast

12/28/10 - Wisconsin’s January thaw might take place a few days early – and things could get wet-and-slippery. The National Weather Service says southern Wisconsin may get a half-inch to one-inch of rain on Thursday and Friday. Also, temperatures might climb into the 40’s late in the week. And forecasters say the rain plus the melting snow could equal flooding on at least some Wisconsin rivers. Dense fog is also being predicted in the south. Freezing rain is possible from southwest Wisconsin into the north, and forecasters say ice jams are possible in the southwest later in the week. Of course, winter will resume at some point. The Weather Service says colder temperatures are expected Friday night into New Year’s Day – and things could really get icy by then.

Bird Watchers Flock To Middleton

12/28/10 - Over 100 bird watchers have traveled to Middleton in the last week to see a golden-crowned sparrow that’s almost never spotted in Wisconsin. It’s been hanging around a feeder at Eagle Optics, a binocular store owned by Mike McDowell – who happens to be a birding enthusiast. He confirmed that it was a golden-crowned sparrow, and then put an item on his Facebook page. Bird watchers from Chicago and throughout Wisconsin have made the pilgrimage to Middleton to add the sparrow to their viewing lists. It normally nests in Alaska and British Columbia Canada – and it spends its winters on the West Coast from Washington to California. McDowell says there’s been a lot of speculation on how the bird got to the Upper Midwest. Some say it might have got blown to Wisconsin by rough weather. Others said it got mixed up in the wrong flock. According to the Wisconsin Ornithological Society, the last gold-crowned sparrow seen in the state was in Sheboygan from November of 1992 through mid-April of ’93.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Top Stories December 27th

Waupun Girl Killed in Accident

12/27/10 - A 14-year-old girl was killed in a two-vehicle accident Monday morning in Waupun.  Authorities say it happened at the intersection of Highway 26 and Clagget Avenue around 9:30 a-m.  The initial investigation shows a Toyota Camry driven by 16-year-old boy was westbound on Clagget Avenue, with the girl in the passenger seat, when they collided with a Chevy Blazer going southbound on Highway 26.  The girl, who was from Waupun, was pronounced dead at the scene.  The boy and the 89-year-old driver of the Blazer were removed from their vehicles by the Jaws of Life and taken to Waupun Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  The crash remains under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department Crash Investigation Team in cooperation with the Waupun Police Department. 

Possible Homicide Charges in Child’s Death


12/27/10 - Chloe Gessner, an 18-month-old who was severely injured in an alleged child abuse incident died last Thursday. The incident occurred on Tuesday shortly after 9:30am when a 911 call was placed from a home in the Fond du Lac area claiming a child had fallen down the stairs. Bail was set at $200,000 for Tyler Jackson, the man who was arrested in connection with that case. The District Attorney’s office says they were waiting to file a criminal complaint against Jackson until the condition of the child was known. Jackson was originally facing charges of child abuse recklessly causing great bodily harm, but could now be facing homicide charges since the child has passed away.

Fire Still Under Investigation

12/27/10 - Officials are still trying to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed one-side of a duplex Thursday night in Columbus. It happened on Ridgeview Lane around 7:30 p-m. Fire Chief Randy Koehn says a passerby reported the fire, and when they arrived on scene the rear of the home was fully engulfed. No one was home at the time, and the damage was limited to only one side of the structure. Amy Jo Vesperman and her two teenage children occupied the damaged side, and the Red Cross was called into help with temporary housing. Vesperman’s parents own the duplex.

Car Strikes Propane Tank

12/27/10 - Authorities say a car nearly hit a house after leaving the roadway late yesterday morning north of Waupun. Instead the car, traveling on Highway 26, hit a propane tank next to the home. Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s officials say firefighters on scene were able to cap the tank and no one was injured. The call came in just before noon.

Non-Candidacy Papers Due Today

12/27/10 - Today is the final day for incumbents to file non-candidacy papers for the spring election. That means people that are currently holding an office have to inform election officials if they don’t intend on running again. A second deadline comes next week on January 4th when those planning to run must file their nomination papers with their local office. Among the races to be held in April include, city council, school board and county board. There is also a strong possibility of a statewide primary in February for Supreme Court as four candidates have already filed papers to take on incumbent David Prosser. A number of school referendums are possible but we won’t know about those for sure until sometime after the new year.

Fitzgeralds Ready to Lead

12/27/10 - When the 100th Edition of the Wisconsin Legislature is sworn in next week, Wisconsin will have a unique situation where two brothers are in key leadership rolls. Representative Jeff Fitzgerald of the 39th Assembly District will become Speaker of the Assembly and his older brother Scott, who is the 13th Districts State Senator, will become Majority Leader. Scott Fitzgerald says that when it started to look like both he and his brothers could end up in their new positions, they weren't even sure it would be allowed to happen. Scott adds that he and his brother do have some similarities in their leadership abilities such as being consensus builders. The Fitzgerald's have been doing the rounds on the national media circuit talking about their unique situation. (KFIZ, FDL)

Business Not As Brisk on Day After Christmas

12/27/10 - Wisconsin shoppers returned to the stores yesterday to return Christmas gifts that didn’t fit, and to pick up things for themselves. Some stores had door-buster items up to 70-percent off. But some malls reported less than traffic than on the day after Christmas a year ago. That’s because of Sunday church services in the morning, and the Green Bay Packers’ game in the afternoon. The National Retail Federation says almost a-third of Americans return at least one gift. But even so, the group expects a three-point-three-percent increase in holiday sales from a year ago.

Expensive Leisure Products Being Bought Again

12/27/10 - People are buying expensive leisure products again, after they held back during the recession. A new report from Milwaukee’s Robert W. Baird-and-Company said motorcycle sales fell by half during the downturn, and A-T-V sales were just 30-percent of what they used to be. But Baird analyst Craig Kennison says many consumers now have a brighter outlook, in spite of high unemployment and a housing market that continues to be depressed. He said inventories for new leisure items are low, and there’s a strong demand for used goods. Kennison said Milwaukee’s Harley-Davidson slashed its production during the recession – and that drove up the prices for used bikes. But now, he says more folks are buying new Harleys with the help of trade-ins. And while it’s hard to prove, Kennison expects the same trend for cars, R-V’s, and other big-ticket items.

Some State Offices Closed Today and this Week

12/27/10 - If you need to do business with the state government this week, you might want to call ahead to see if they’re open. All state offices are closed on Friday for the New Year’s holiday. But a couple agencies will close today, so workers can take one of their eight unpaid furlough days during the current fiscal year. The Department of Financial Institutions is closed today. The D-N-R’s walk-in service centers are closed, but its call-center remains open. The public defender’s offices in Appleton and Waukesha are closed. All other state offices are open today. There’s one closure on Thursday. The public defender’s Peshtigo office will be shut down that day.

Retiree Helping People Get Money Back from the State

12/27/10 - A southern Wisconsin man has found something unique to do in his retirement – help people get their unclaimed property from the State Treasurer’s office. 72-year-old Jay Wells of Lodi (low-die) figured he had to do something besides watching T-V. So he went on the treasurer’s Web site one day, to see if the state was holding onto investments he might have forgotten about. Wells didn’t see his name, but he did see some of his friends – and he helped them get back what they lost. After that, Wells reached out to people he didn’t know. He found one woman who had three-thousand-dollars coming. And she was so excited to hear from Wells, she could hug him. Wells says he’d rather see the people have their money instead of the government.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Top Stories December 26th

FDL Child Abuse Case turns into Homicide Investigation

12/26/10 - The death of an 18 month old girl turns a child abuse investigation into a homicide case. The little girl died at a Fond du Lac County hospital. Authorities say they had arrested a 22 year old man in connection with the child's severe injuries. A criminal complaint hadn't been filed because authorities were focused on the little girl's medical condition. Emergency responders were told the child had fallen down some stairs, but the physical evidence didn't match the girl's injuries.

Names in Columbia Co. Crash Released

12/26/10 - Authorities have released the name of the woman killed in a two vehicle accident Friday morning in Columbia County. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, a semi driver, 44-year-old Joseph Knapstein, had stopped on the right shoulder of I-90 westbound near Arlington to assist with a previous crash at about 9 a.m. Friday. Within minutes, the driver of a north bound pick up, 22-year-old Kali Mann of St. Louis Park, MN, lost control and struck the rear of the semi. She was pronounced dead at the scene by the Columbia County Coroner’s office and the only passenger in the vehicle, 23-year-old Gordon Hicks, also of St. Louis Park, was taken to UW Hospital with serious injuries. The semi driver was uninjured. Speed is considered a contributing factor.

New Years Travel

12/26/10 - Nearly two million people are expected to be traveling on Wisconsin roads and highways over the next two weeks. Triple-A Wisconsin expects another 55 thousand people to fly. Travelers are advised to make sure their cars are in working order before they take to the road. Triple-A puts the figure at 1-point-8 million travelers on the state's highways.

More Charges Filed Against Waupaca Man

12/26/10 - A man charged with possessing child pornography now faces additional charges. Fifty one year old Joseph A. Bohman is accused of sexually assaulting a six year old girl. The girl tells police the Waupaca man touched her inappropriately last Monday, then told her to keep it a secret. Police say Bohman denied the accusation. Bohman was charged with 25 child porn counts last July. Police had served a search warrant and the subsequent computer search turned up 60 pictures of child pornography on his machine.

Federal Judge Seat to Remain Empty for Now

12/26/10 - The empty seat in the federal Court House in Madison will remain empty for the foreseeable future, thanks to a deal reached between the Democratic and Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate. That deal appears to be the end of the line for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler. Last fall, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved his nomination to fill the seat of retiring judge, John Shabazz. But Republican Senators have refused to bring his confirmation to a vote deeming him too liberal for the federal bench. This week, Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell agreed to vote on 19 other judgeships, but to freeze Butler's and three others.

EPA will Continue to Regulate

12/26/10 - The EPA says it still plans to regulate greenhouse gas emissions next year, despite calls from conservatives in Wisconsin and elsewhere, to halt those plans. Federal courts have told the EPA that the agency should regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. The EPA has just released a broad plan, to issue final standards for emissions from fossil-fueled power plants and petroleum refineries by 2012. The EPA's Gina McCarthy promises a flexible approach that will use a lot of input from businesses, states and others. She says her agency is not trying to have power plants and refineries trigger layoffs at other firms. She says the refineries and power plants probably won't make any improvements for about five years, but contends the EPA is still making progress on reducing pollution that harms human health and contributes to climate change.

“Reach Out and Read” Expanding

12/26/10 - The Children’s hospitals in Madison and Milwaukee are joining forces to expand the “Reach Out and Read” program across Wisconsin. UW Hospital and Clinics President Donna Katen-Bahensky says the effort will make free books available to thousands of pre-school aged children. An estimated 96-percent of children in that age group visit the doctor at least once a year. Katen-Bahensky says that means doctors can fill a vital role in educating parents about the importance of reading to their kids at a young age, which research has shown helps to prepare them when they enter school later in life. She says parents who receive books through the program are more likely to read to their kids. The program will make books available at over 50 hospitals and clinics across the state.

Social Media Goes Mainstream

12/26/10 - The communications director for Milwaukee police says the department understands how the social media can help law enforcement do its job. Anne E. Schwartz says Milwaukee police are using Facebook and Twitter, saying all the tools together have helped get the word out much quicker when trying to catch at dangerous suspect. Departments large and small, like the city of Madison and Washington County, are now on Twitter or Facebook and use those sites to get information out to the public. Of course the media are also using their web sites and social media to put out “as it happens” information on crime – and there can be a downside to that. Of course, that immediacy lets suspect know, too.

Local Food Pantry Gets $1,000 Donation

12/26/10 - The Alliant Energy Foundation is spreading a little extra holiday cheer to 27 food pantries across Wisconsin through a wide-ranging giving campaign. As part of that initiative, the Foundation is providing the St. Vincent de Paul Dodge County Food Pantry in Beaver Dam with a $1,000 gift to help low-income families and individuals in the area during the holiday season. The Foundation’s Executive Director, Julie Bauer, says they are honored and humbled to be able to reach out to food pantries during the holidays to assist their customer and neighbors in need.

No Swearing on the Bus

12/26/10 - Milwaukee County bus passenger Terry Duncan says he didn't know you couldn't swear while riding on the bus. Duncan was fined 500 dollars for disorderly conduct, basically using profane language while riding a county bus. Milwaukee County has zero tolerance for disorderly conduct on its buses. Duncan says he is new to the area and didn't know about the rule on swearing because there are no signs posted on the bus he was using.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Top Stories December 25th

Crash Kills One, Injures Another in Columbia County


12/25/10 - A two-vehicle crash 20 miles north of Madison took one life and left a passenger seriously injured. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, a semi driver had stopped on the right shoulder of I-90 westbound near Arlington to assist with a previous crash at about 9 a.m. Friday. Within minutes, the driver of a north bound pick up lost control and struck the rear of the semi. That driver was pronounced dead at the scene by the Columbia County Coroner’s office and the only passenger in the vehicle was taken to UW Hospital with serious injuries. The semi driver was uninjured. Speed is considered a contributing factor.

Milwaukee Man to Appear on Drunk Driving Charge

12/25/10 - A Milwaukee police sergeant is scheduled to appear in Fond du Lac County court next month on drunk driving charges. John P. Corbert is accused of driving drunk while his 13 year old daughter was in his car. It happened November 21. The girl told investigators the people she was with had gone deer hunting, then stopped at a tavern. She said she had been driving because he father was drunk, but she got lost and woke him up to drive the car. A preliminary breath test performed on Corbett found his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.

Shooting was in Self Defense

12/25/10 - The Columbia County district attorney says a report from the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation proves that two deputies fired in self defense when they killed a man last month. Kelly Bishell of Cambridge was killed in the incident November 14. The sheriff's office got a call says Bishell was threatening to kill himself and his dog that night. They responded to a home in a rural area near Pardeeville. The report indicates Bishell shot at the deputies, narrowly missing one and wounding another. They returned fire. The shooting death of Bishell was the second fatal shooting involving the Columbia County Sheriff's Office in a five-month period.

Beloit Man Killed in Hunting Accident

12/25/10 - The Rock County Sheriff's office reports a 30 year old man from Beloit has died in an apparent hunting accident. The report of the shooting was received Friday at about 12:30 p.m. Deputies say they got a call reporting an 11 year old boy was requesting help for his father. Ambulance personnel found the man in a wooded area with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. A final determination hasn't been made, but the sheriff's office reportedly says it appears to have been an accidental shooting.

Doyle Hopes State will Continue Stem Cell Research

12/25/10 - Governor Jim Doyle hopes the state will continue moving ahead as a leader in stem cell research. Wisconsin has seen work with stem cells boom under Doyle, with the UW-Madison adding facilities to explore the science and private companies locating here so they can be closer to that research and talent. Doyle says it has created hope for scientific discoveries that could cure diseases many thought could only be treated before, such as diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease. He says it has also been a significant contributor to the state’s economy. The future of that work remains in question though under Governor-elect Scott Walker, who says he favors work with adult stem cells instead of embryonic lines. Most researchers say work with both is necessary. Doyle hopes science overcomes the politics of the issue.

2011 Could be Tough for Dairy Farmers

12/25/10 - Wisconsin dairy farmers are expecting next year to be a very tough one for their industry due in part to a payment system which leaders say is well below what’s needed for many farmers to break even. Because of milk overproduction, and high feed costs, milk market prices are expected to drop down in 2011, possibly as low as 13 dollars per hundred weight. Wisconsin dairy farmers faced similar challenges in 2009, and industry experts had hoped this year would be one of recovery. Prices did improve in 2010, but only enough for many farmers to break even, if even that. Dairy producer Paul Rozwadowski of Stanley is with the National Family Farm Coalition. He says farmers took drastic measures to survive 2009, using their savings, cashing in retirement accounts, or borrowing the money. He says it will be harder for farmers to withstand next year because they won't have those financial resources to call upon.

Men Fined for Stealing Salvation Army Kettle

12/25/10 - Two men have paid a fine for stealing a Salvation Army kettle from in front of a Milwaukee Walmart store. That kettle was taken Monday while the bell ringer was away on a break. Surveillance video showed the thieves, but police couldn't identify them. Then, police backed up the video and watched the suspects pull a car to the front door to help their aunt return a mattress. She didn't have a receipt, so Walmart personnel took her personal information - and police used that information to contact her. The woman didn't know the two had taken the kettle and she quickly led officers to the thieves. News converage of the theft led an anonymous donor to give 500 dollars to the Salvation Army last week.

Beware of Identity Theft

12/25/10 - Identity theft is on the rise this year – and Wisconsinites are urged to take a closer look at their bank-and-credit card statements when they finish shopping for the holidays. Almost three-thousand Wisconsin residents reported identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission last year. Ron Van Haden of the Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin calls it an amazing number. He says the number of ways your identity can be compromised keeps growing by the day. A woman near Appleton used her A-T-M card on Black Friday, and later noticed it was overdrawn by a few hundred dollars. They later learned that somebody in West Virginia used the woman’s information to buy things on-line. The person was nabbed, and the woman got her money back. But officials say those kinds of happy endings are rare. Von Haden says shoppers should also be careful flashing their credit cards at the checkout line – because it’s easier than ever for somebody to take a picture of it with a cell phone. If you find something wrong on your bank statements, Schilz says to report it immediately. Identity theft victims normally have two months to file fraud claims with their banks and credit card companies.

Technology Making it Easier to Donate

12/25/10 - It’s easier than ever to play Santa, thanks to computers and cell phones. Milwaukee’s Hunger Task Force found that out this week, after it reported a large decrease in its donations. The Journal Sentinel put the story on its Web site. And within minutes, over 130 people pledged 14-thousand-dollars on the group’s Internet site and in text messages. The Hunger Task Force provides food to numerous pantries in southeast Wisconsin. Donations on its Web site are up 44-percent from a year ago. And it started taking 10-dollar gifts in text messages, after a similar campaign for earthquake victims in Haiti proved to be a huge success. But it’s still not enough for the Hunger Task Force to avoid an overall drop in donations. People have given 287-thousand-dollars in the past three months, compared to the same time a year ago. Director Sherri Tussler says donors who gave 30-thousand-dollars in past years are down to around 10-thousand this year. And donations in food drives have fallen by 11-percent. There are plenty of volunteers to make sure folks in shelters get Christmas meals. But Tussler hopes that continues. Without more donations, she says the Task Force could run out of food this spring. That hasn’t happened since 1997.

A Classic Christmas

12/25/10 - Don’t be surprised if you see some low-tech, classic toys under your Christmas tree today. It could be due in part to nostalgia, or to the economic downturn, but this holiday’s hot new trend is actually old. “Erector sets, Legos, Lincoln Logs and board games, card games, games that kids can play with their friends, their siblings, their moms and dads and grandpas and grandmas.” Doug Johnson is a retail analyst. Remember the Slinky, Shrinky Dinks, Tinker Toys? They’re back, too. Old or new, Johnson says kids just love toys. “Kids are kids and toys are toys.”

Friday, December 24, 2010

Top Stories December 24th

Lynch Makes Initial Appearance


12/24/10 - Former Fox Lake Police Chief Patrick Lynch made his initial appearance yesterday on charges that he sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl in 1989 and later stalked her and two other people. The 54-year-old was freed on a $25,000 cash bond with conditions following his appearance. Lynch was charged on Wednesday with 1st degree sexual assault of a child and three counts of felony stalking. During yesterday’s proceedings, Lynch told the court he resigned from his job as police chief in 2009 to avoid finger pointing associated with the accusations that he’s been dealing with for some time. And said “It’s time for this to be in a courthouse.” The alleged sexual assault occurred in the summer of 1989 in a bathroom at the girl’s home in Randolph. The victim, who is now 28, says her father was friends with Lynch, who is also charged with allegedly stalking the victim at her place of work beginning in high school and continuing through early-2008. The two other counts of stalking relate to incidents involving the then-boyfriend of Lynch’s ex-wife and a former employee at the Fox Lake Police Department. Lynch is due back in court next week.

Duplex Damaged by Fire

12/24/10 - One half of a duplex in Columbus was badly damaged last night by fire. It happened in the Kestrel Ridge subdivision on Ridgeview Lane around 7:30. Upon arrival, firefighters found the rear of the structure fully engulfed and were still dealing with hotspots late last night.

Break-in Investigated

12/24/10 - Authorities are investigating a break-in that occurred early yesterday morning at a Lomira business. It happened after 2 a-m at Olde Towne Beverage in the 400 block of East Main Street. The security company ADT reported a front motion alarm was set off and upon deputies found the front door smash out. The building was secured for the rest of the morning and more follow up was expected. It’s unclear if anything was missing from the business.

MEC Expanding

12/24/10 - Mayville Engineering plans to start production early next year at an old factory the firm recently bought in Wautoma. Mayville is currently renovating the structure, which used to be a Cummins Filtration plant. The new facility is expected to have 100 employees by the end of next year – and around 200 by the end of 2013. It will start with manual welding work, and later move into robotic welding, laser-cutting, brake-forming, and machine production. The Wautoma plant has over 156-thousand square feet. Mayville Engineering has its headquarters in Mayville. It also has plants in Beaver Dam, Neillsville, and Berlin.

Unemployment Holds Steady

12/24/10 - Unemployment in the region held steady for the most part from October to November. The jobless rate in Dodge County remained at 7.2% over the two months period. That’s a full point-and-a-half lower than at the same time one year ago. Jefferson County was down one-tenth of a point to 7.4-percent, while Fond du Lac County held steady at 6.7%. Washington County dropped two-tenths to 6.4% and Columbia County was at 7.0% up two-tenths. Twenty-three counties had lower rates and another five had no change from October. Meanwhile, five of Wisconsin’s 12 metro areas lost jobs last month, and nine of those areas had steady or lower unemployment rates from October. Madison lost the most jobs, with 13-hundred on a seasonally-adjusted basis. But Wisconsin’s capital still had the state’s lowest jobless rate at an unadjusted five-percent, down two-tenths from the previous month. Janesville had the highest unemployment rate of the metros at nine-point-six-percent, down two-tenths from October. All told, Wisconsin lost 52-hundred jobs last month, with a jobless rate that held steady at seven-point-one-percent.

Trial Scheduled fro Corrections Officer

12/24/10 - A jury trial has been schedule for a guard at the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun who’s accused of assaulting 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. The trial is scheduled for early April.

Trio will be Tried Together

12/24/10 - Prosecutors in Waukesha won a court battle yesterday morning, when a judge ordered a single trial for three men charged in a conspiracy to kill an Oconomowoc woman. Defense lawyers wanted separate trials for 66-year-old Jack Johnson, 27-year-old Justin Welch, and 42-year-old Darren Wold. But Circuit Judge James Kieffer refused to buy the defendants’ arguments that a joint trial would hurt their chances of having their cases heard fairly. The case involves the stabbing death last October of Wold’s ex-girlfriend, 39-year-old Kimberly Smith. Wold was reportedly in a bitter custody battle over his young son. And prosecutors said Wold and Johnson allegedly conspired to hire a hit-man to kill Smith, so Wold could have full custody of the child. Prosecutors said Welch pulled off the actual murder. District Attorney Brad Schimel said the three defendants were part of quote, “the same criminal enterprise,” and therefore a joint trial is justified.

No Salmonella Poisoning at WI Jimmy John’s

12/24/10 - Health officials say none of the Jimmy John’s restaurants in Wisconsin have been affected by a salmonella outbreak reported in neighboring Illinois. The sandwich chain said it was pulling alfalfa sprouts from some of its franchised outlets, after Illinois health officials confirmed that 44 people came down with salmonella poisoning. One of those people was a Wisconsinite who ate at a Jimmy John’s in Chicago – but a public health official in Illinois did not know where the Wisconsin resident lives. Officials say they’re testing produce from the Illinois Jimmy John’s – and alfalfa suppliers are being checked out.

BD Elks Lodge Christmas Food Basket Program

12/24/10 - The Beaver Dam Elks Lodge is gearing up for their annual Christmas Food Basket Program. For 59 years the service organization has been helping families throughout Dodge County put a little extra food on the table over the holiday. Christmas Basket Committee Chairman Rob Radig says last year the Elks packed 480 food baskets for nearly 2000 individuals but this year that number is expected to top 500. In the last three years they’ve delivered over 1200 baskets to over 6000 adults and children. Packing of the food baskets will begin at 8:45am this (Fri) morning at Beaver Dam Ford on North Spring Street, next to Fleet Farm, and the public is encouraged to stop by and deliver a basket. Radig says the delivery process is expected to take a couple hours. The Beaver Dam High School Wrestling team and local Boy Scouts will also be on hand to participate in the process. After the workshop is closed and the sleighs are empty, volunteers are invited over to the Beaver Dam Elks Lodge at 126 South Spring Street for a free lunch.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Top Stories December 23rd

Former Fox Lake Chief Lynch Charged


12/23/10 - A former Fox Lake Police Chief has been charged with the sexual assault of a child and stalking. 54-year-old Patrick Lynch was arrested Wednesday morning yesterday the conclusion of an investigation by the state Department of Justice and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department. Lynch is charged with one count of 1st degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 and three counts of stalking. The alleged sexual assault occurred in the summer of 1989 at home in Randolph. The victim’s father was friends with Lynch, who was an officer with the Randolph Police Department. In the criminal complaint, the victim says that beginning in high school Lynch would show up at her place of employment, and that continued until at least early 2008. A 2nd stalking count came as a result of numerous alleged altercations between Lynch and the then-boyfriend of Lynch’s ex-wife. The criminal complaint states the two got in a shoving match in a bar in 2005 and another incident in 2007 that resulted in charges being filed against the boyfriend. The complaint states Lynch followed the boyfriend around Fox Lake in his squad car, while serving as the police chief. The third count relates to a former Fox Lake Police Department employee, who says Lynch stalked her after she left the department, including driving past her home as many as 10-times per day, coming into her home uninvited and to her place of employment. Lynch resigned from his job as police chief in Fox Lake in the spring of 2009. He’s due in court Thursday morning for his initial appearance.

One Injured in Semi-Trailer Fire

12/23/10 - One person was injured after the wheels on a tractor-trailer caught on fire in Beaver Dam late Wednesday morning. It happened near the intersection of South Lincoln Ave and Washington Streets, just steps from the fire department. Captain Matt Christian says they were called out just before noon and were able to extinguish the fire quickly. The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries when the fire caused the airbags in the tractor-trailers suspension to deploy. Christian says heat generated by the brakes is what caused the tires to start on fire.

Principal Could Be Done in Horicon

12/23/10 - The Horicon School District has taken the first step towards not renewing the contract of current assistant high school principal and athletic director Jeff Higgins. The school board met in closed session this week and issued a preliminary notice of non-renewal to Higgins, whose contract is up in June of 2012. A final notice would be issued next month if the board so chooses. Higgins was put on administrative leave while serving as Principal of the high school in early June when issues between he and his staff came to light but was reinstated in August. Superintendent Gary Berger says the non-renewal isn’t based solely on this summer’s events and that the school board is looking at the big picture.

Closed Campus Coming to BDHS

12/23/10 - In conjunction with the new scheduling format at the high school, the Beaver Dam School Board approved closing the campus. That means students, beginning with this fall’s freshmen class, will not be able to leave the grounds during school hours. Superintendent Steve Vessey says there will be opportunities for upperclassmen to earn the right of having open campus through a rewards program but they felt a closed campus would make for a safer environment for freshmen and sophomores. as of two years ago just 20 of the more than 450 school districts in the state had open campus at some of their schools.

4-K Becoming the Norm

12/23/10 - Four-year-old kindergarten has almost become standard in Wisconsin public schools. A new state report said 85-percent of districts with elementary schools have kindergarten for four-year-olds in the current school year. It’s offered in 350 districts, and over 41-thousand youngsters are enrolled. Ten years ago, 166 Wisconsin school systems had four-year-old kindergarten. And just under 15-thousand youngsters were attending those classes. District in our area that are currently running 4-K programs or will be in the near future include Beaver Dam, Waupun, Horicon and Columbus. Others, such as Mayville, are studying the possibility of starting their own program.

New Simulator Looks to Increase Highway Safety

12/23/10 - Two U-W Madison experts hope to improve highway safety with a sophisticated driving simulator they created. It’s a Ford Fusion that’s connected to a 24-foot screen and a network of computers and projectors. The vehicle stays still while a person drives it. But the screen shows the consequences of a driver’s every move, as simulated in real-looking street and highway scenes. The device cost a half-million dollars, funded in part by the state D-O-T. Creators say the simulator will create a new world of research, as it studies everything from a driver’s distractions by cell phones to safety features on freeway ramps.