Top Stories, December 16th

Beaver Dam PFC Names New Police Chief

12/16/10 - The city of Beaver Dam has a new police chief. The Police and Fire Commission last night unanimously selected Ronald Smith with the Norwalk, Connecticut Police Department after a lengthy search. Smith was selected over candidates from Glencoe and Westchester, Illinois and Janesville, Wisconsin. Chair Nancy Conley says Smith stood out head and shoulders above the other candidates and she anticipates he will be very approachable and responsive to the needs of both citizens and staff. Conley says Smith wanted to move to the Midwest and was eager to move out of a heavily populated urban area. She says his energy, combined with a great educational background, will serve the city and the department well. Smith is a lieutenant with the Norwalk Police Department and is commander of the Professional Standards Division/ Internal Affairs/ Inspection Unit. He has Masters degrees in Criminal Justice and Organizational Psychology. Smith will succeed Dale Boldt, who retired in May. He will be in Beaver Dam this Monday to meet with members of the department. He will also be introduced during Monday’s regular Common Council meeting.

Multi-State Crime Spree Suspect Arraigned

12/16/10 - A Mount Horeb man who may have committed over a hundred burglaries in three states was in Dodge County court Wednesday on charges related to a bar break-in last year. Jeremy Kahl is charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor Theft and Criminal Damage to Property for allegedly breaking into O’Connor’s bar in Reeseville on July 19, 2009 and stealing money from three gaming machines. According to the criminal complaint, detectives with the Dane County Sheriffs Department had placed a GPS device on the 22-year-old’s vehicle because he was suspected in numerous burglaries throughout Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. He was arrested two days after the Reeseville burglary in Urbana, Illinois with his girlfriend, who was nine months pregnant at the time. She has been fully cooperating with authorities and has received immunity in many of the break-ins. She told police that she was with Kahl for over one hundred burglaries. Maps were reportedly found that highlighted cities they had visited where either burglaries were committed or where authorities say they had been looking to commit a burglary. Reeseville was highlighted on the map. She told investigators that their “M-O” was to break into bars in smaller cities. The two have been making court appearances throughout Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Kahl entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment yesterday (Wed) in Dodge County court. Kahl also had burglary charges filed against him in Green County and has a plea hearing scheduled in Marathon County this February. He was convicted of burglary in Sauk County in October as part of this same crime spree.

Two Dead In Washington County Pile-Up

12/16/10 - Two Fond du Lac men were killed and a Mayville woman was among those injured in a multi-vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon in Washington County. There were two separate accidents and authorities are still trying to piece together the sequence of events. The first crash was reported at 9:15am on Route 41 near Highway 33 in the Town of Wayne. It involved at least two vehicles and caused a backup four to five miles long in the south bound lanes of Route 41. The second accident was reported an hour later as the result of the traffic back-up. Authorities say a southbound semi tanker driven by a 62-year-old Malone man rear-ended an SUV. The 57-year-old Fond du Lac man in the SUV was killed. His SUV was pushed into a minivan operated by a 52-year-old Mayville woman, who was transported to Aurora Medical Center in Hartford with non-life threatening injuries. The semi then struck a second SUV that was being driven by a 30-year-old Fond du Lac woman. That SUV overturned and was pushed into the northbound lanes. The driver was flown from the scene by Flight For Life to Froedtert Hospital. Her passenger, a 58-year-old Fond du Lac man, was killed. The semi then struck a cargo van and both vehicles went through the median and came to rest in the northbound lanes. The 39-year-old Richfield woman driving the cargo van was also flighted to Froedtert with serious injures. The driver of the semi sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac. The truck was hauling ammonium hydroxide but it did not spill. Both lanes were closed for several hours. The Washington County Sheriffs Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol are investigating.

Burnett Man Sentenced In Snowmobile Fraud Case

12/16/10 - A Burnett man was sentenced to 20 days in jail Wednesday for falsely reporting that his snowmobile was stolen. James P. Voit pleaded “no contest” last month to felony insurance fraud charges. The 46-year-old reported an $8000 all-terrain vehicle stolen in February of 2008. It was recovered a few weeks later on his neighbor’s property, heavily damaged. Multiple witnesses say Voit intentionally abandoned the ATV. According to the criminal complaint, he was drunk and driving erratically when he went airborne and entered a ditch. Voit was also placed on probation for two years.

Metalcraft Fire Sparked By Welding Torch

12/16/10 - Mayville Fire Chief Roger Williams says a fire at Metalcraft in Mayville was started after sparks from a welding torch ignited nearby insulation. Rogers says contractors were installing a new parts washer when the fire started. The Deputy Chief works at the plant and called in the incident as an active fire, but Rogers says when they arrived on scene the sprinklers had already done their job. Crews were called out to 1000 Metalcraft Drive at 7:50am Tuesday morning and were back in the station by 9:30am. Damage was limited to the insulation. Work was not interrupted.

Caine Recognized For Service

12/16/10 - A Korean War Veteran who went on to become a successful businessman in the Dodge County area was recently presented with the Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award. Longtime Lowell resident Chet Caine received the honor from the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs during their December meeting. After serving in the Korean War, Caine came back to the area and started numerous businesses that currently employ more than a hundred people. He’s stayed active in the VFW and other veteran’s organizations, while also serving 47-years on the Lowell Village Board and 24-years on the Dodge County Board. The award itself recognizes veterans living in Wisconsin who have put together an exemplary record as a military service member, a veteran, and as a citizen during the veteran’s life time. Caine is the eighteenth recipient of the award.