Top Stories, April 1st

Pair Charged With Trio of Bar Burglaries

4/1/11 - Two people made court appearances this week in connection with a series of Dodge County tavern break-ins. 32-year-old Nicholas J. Etter of West Salem and 32-year-old Michelle L. Novak of Lyndon Station are each charged with three counts of felony burglary. The pair is accused of breaking into the Dockside Pub and Grille in the Town of Westford in January, Jumpers Bar in the Town of Beaver Dam in February and Chances Bar in the Town of Burnett in March. Thousands of dollars was stolen from poker machines, ATM’s and safes. According to the criminal complaint, Etter admitted that he was involved but blamed another man for orchestrating the break-ins. Novak reportedly admitted to being the getaway driver and lookout. No one else is currently charged in connection with the spree. Etter had cash bond set at $10,000 yesterday and will be back in court next Thursday for a preliminary hearing. Novak had a signature bond set at $5000 and will be back in court next month. Both face a maximum sentence of over 37 years in prison, if convicted.

Man Convicted in Multi-State Crime Spree

4/1/11 - A Mount Horeb man was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison for breaking into a Reeseville tavern. Jeremy Kahl has been connected to over a hundred burglaries in three states. The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to felony burglary and had misdemeanors counts of Theft and Criminal Damage to Property dismissed. Kahl broke into O’Connor’s bar in Reeseville in July of 2009 and stole money from three gaming machines. According to the criminal complaint, detectives with the Dane County Sheriffs Department had placed a GPS device on his vehicle because he was suspected in numerous burglaries throughout Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. Kahl was arrested two days after the Reeseville burglary in Urbana, Illinois with his girlfriend, who was nine months pregnant at the time. She cooperated with authorities and has received immunity in many of the break-ins. She told police that she was with Kahl for over one hundred of the break-ins. Maps were found that highlighted cities they had visited where either burglaries were committed or where authorities say the couple 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. Kahl’s three year sentence will run at the same time as any other sentences. He was sentenced last August to 15 years in prison for a series of bar break-ins in Iowa. Kahl was placed on probation on similar charges in Marathon and Sauk counties and has charges pending in Greek Lake County.

Beaver Dam Man Charged With Molestation

4/1/11 - A Beaver Dam man is accused of molesting a preschool-age child. Joseph R. Evans is charged with one felony count of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 12. According to the criminal complaint, Evans fondled the victim last month while his grandmother was babysitting her. The child came home and complained to her mother about pains from Evans touching her. When questioned by trained investigators, the child said the inappropriate contact had occurred “lots of times.” The 23-year-old said the two had been wrestling and an inappropriate contact was accidental and outside the clothes. The felony charge carries a maximum 60 year prison sentence, upon conviction. Cash bond was set at $10,000 on Wednesday and will be in court for a preliminary hearing next Thursday. In an unrelated case, Evans has a plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for next Friday related to the theft of thousands of dollars worth of scrap metal.

Columbus Holds Public Hearings

4/1/11 - Over 30 Columbus residents living along Farnham and Water streets showed up at City Hall this week with questions and comments during two public hearings. Most residents’ objections to scheduled street repairs had to do with assessment costs. It was reported that construction bids on the projects came in lower than initial estimates. Residents will be able to pay off assessment fees over a ten-year period. Engineering plans call for work on North Water Street to start later this month and the Farnham Street resurfacing starting after the Fourth of July.

Full Schedule On Community Comment Today

4/1/11 - On Community Comment this afternoon we’ll sit down with Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald. The Republican from Horicon will join us for the hour to discuss the state’s fiscal situation and the planned restrictions on public unions. Fitzgerald will also preview Wisconsin First, a proposed constitution amendment that would set aside tax revenue during prosperous times to lessen the burden during an economic downturn. At 2pm we’ll talk to a representative of the state, county and municipal workers in the Dodge County area. Brian Drumm of AFSCME Local 1323B will talk about the union’s position on the planned collective bargaining restrictions. Following that discussion, we’ll hear from the four Beaver Dam school board candidates who are competing for three open seats in the April 5 election. Community Comment airs weekdays on 1430AM beginning at 12:35pm.

Governor Holds Off on Implementing Budget Directives

4/1/11 - The Walker administration will stop carrying out the new law that limits collective bargaining by public employee unions. Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi said it was improper for Republicans to have the law published on the Legislature’s Web site last Friday, so it could be implemented last weekend despite a restraining order the judge issued on March 18th. That order blocked the union law until the judge could decide whether the Legislature broke the state Open Meetings Law when they passed it. The Justice Department said the restraining order only applied to the traditional way of adopting the law – in which the secretary-of-state has it published in the Wisconsin State Journal, and it takes effect the next day. Sumi hear take more testimony on the matter tomorrow. Secretary-of-State Doug La Follette said he was pleased with today’s ruling. He called it a clear statement that the law is not in effect until the other legal issues are straightened out. But G-O-P Assembly Finance Chair Robin Vos said it was wrong for a judge in one county to hold up the entire Legislature – and he still believes the law was adopted legally.

Charges Forthcoming In GOP Threats

4/1/11 - Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne says he is preparing to charge a woman with making a bomb threat and unlawful use of a computer. The Dane County woman reportedly admitted she was behind death threats earlier in the month that were sent by email to Republican lawmakers including Jeff and Scott Fitzgerald, over their support for the Governor’s budget repair bill. The email they received contained threats, such as “we plan to put a nice little bullet in your head.” It also threatened to place bombs at the Capitol, in their cars, and at their homes. The Justice Department has voiced concerns as to why there has not been any action on the case, which was referred to the District Attorneys office nearly two weeks ago. At that time, Department of Justice found there was no imminent threat, but there was sufficient probable cause for charges.

Hopper Recall Efforts Moving Along

4/1/11 - Organizers for the recall campaign of Fond du Lac Senator Randy Hopper say they are closing in on the number of signatures needed to force a recall election. A total of just under 15,300 signatures are needed to for a recall against Hopper, whose district includes much of Fond du Lac County and the Dodge County portion of Waupun. AFSCME, which represents thousands of municipal, county, and state employees, is leading the push. The group must have the required signatures to the Government Accountability Board by May 2. The board then has 31 days to verify the signatures. The earliest an election could be held would be late July or early August. If two candidates from the same party wanted to run, a primary would be needed, which would push an election even further back.

Recall Petitioners Expected At Polls

4/1/11 - If you vote on Tuesday, don’t be surprised if you’re asked to sign a recall petition while you’re entering or leaving the polling place. Sixteen Wisconsin senators are facing possible recalls for their actions on the law that restricts public union bargaining. And some of those recall groups say they’ll camp outside polling places to gather signatures. If you wonder if that’s legal, it is. Normally, the law prohibits “electioneering” within 100-feet of a polling place. But the state Government Accountability Board says it’s not “electioneering” to gather signatures for an election that’s not related to the ones being contested that day. The state issued a formal legal opinion to that effect in 2007, during a recall effort against former Milwaukee alderman Mike McGee. And the ruling was reaffirmed in 2008. Recall efforts are entering their second-and-final month against eight Republican and eight Democratic senators. Observers expect around half those campaigns will get enough signatures to hold recall votes later in the year.

Jacobs Missing Another Year of Football

4/1/11 - An offensive lineman from Beaver Dam will miss spring football activities at North Dakota State University for the second year in a row. And his coach says Hank Jacobs’ career might be over. Jacobs was part of the team’s 2009 recruiting class, after he was an All-State Wisconsin selection at Beaver Dam. He missed last spring’s activities after shoulder surgery. This year, coach Craig Bohl said Jacobs has a back injury. And Bohl told the Fargo Forum newspaper it might be too much for him to overcome.

Top Stories, March 31st

Chamber of Commerce Hosts Candidates Forum

3/31/11 - At last night’s Chamber of Commerce Spring Election Forum, the candidates for Beaver Dam school board fielded a number of questions about their views on the governors planned budget and its effect locally.

Incumbent Joanne Tyjeski is an office manager at her family’s business and the mother of four children. Tyjeski, who also sits on the Negotiations Committee, says it has been a trying time but they have open and honest communication and a mutual respect that will allow them to move forward regardless of what the state decides.

Incumbent Lisa Panzer is a mother of two who works at John Deere and has served a board vice president for the past two years. Panzer says that because teacher contracts are the biggest part of the budget, the district should hold off on approval until the situation plays out in Madison while at the same time keeping the lines of communication open so they can work collaboratively once the final numbers are known.

Incumbent Kim Darst is a reading specialist in the Sun Prairie School District and has a child in the Beaver Dam school district. Darst blames the governors Budget Repair Bill for the loss of the states most experienced teachers to retirement and says it will also lead to a loss of local control for school boards around the state.

Challenger Mickale Carter is an attorney who has previous work experience as a middle and high school teacher. Carter was disappointed that the school board took no action against the teachers who took time off last month to protest in Madison and did not acknowledge the negative impact that it had on the community. The four Beaver Dam school board candidates are competing for three open seats.

Documents Say BDUSD Evaluations Neglected

3/31/11 - Newly released documents show that when Steve Vessey was the Beaver Dam School District’s Human Resources Director he told former Superintendent Don Childs that then-high school principal Don Patnode was failing to meet his requirements to evaluate teachers and that Childs (quote) “chose not to do anything about it.” But Childs said today that during Patnode’s first year at the high school he was the only administrator in the building and therefore evaluations were not done. And during the 2008-2009 school year evaluations were also not fully completed, and Childs says action was taken against Patnode but for legal reasons could not say what those actions were. Since the 2009-2010 school year evaluations have been done as required. The documents come in the form of pre-trial testimony taken in January as part of an open records lawsuit filed against the district. Patnode has since moved to the principal job at the Don Smith Learning Academy and will retire at the end of the year, while Childs is now the Superintendent in Waupun. Vessey took over as Superintendent in Beaver Dam last July and said of the evaluations in a text Tuesday night, (quote) “we resolved the issues regarding supervision and evaluation eight months ago, this is a dead issue, it’s time to move on.” The lawsuit filed on behalf of Cheryl Grulke remains open as her lawyers go through the thousands of pages of documents produced by the district.

Walker Announces Revised Budget Plan

3/31/11- Governor Scott Walker announced his revised plan Wednesday to balance the current state budget. His original budget repair bill would have eliminated a 137-million dollar deficit in the spending package that expires June 30th. But only 38-and-a-half million was covered when G-O-P lawmakers approved a virtual end to public employee union bargaining which is now tied up in the courts. As expected, the Republican Walker would refinance 165-million in state debt. That would generate millions now – and another 79-million dollars would be saved with various spending cuts and efficiencies. There are also some added expenses. Federal funds instead of state money would be used to provide 37-million-dollars for the earned income tax credit for the working poor. Medicaid programs would get 176-and-a-half million dollars more to avoid cuts in benefits. And 22-million would be spent for cost over-runs at state prisons. Walker says his bill would let the state finish the current budget in the black, without middle-class tax increases. Lawmakers are expected to consider the package when they return to session next week.

Unemployment Up Across The Board

3/31/11 - The unemployment rate in the area is back above nine percent as all but one county in the state saw increases last month. According to the Department of Workforce Development, the jobless rate in Dodge County in February edged up four-tenths of a percent from January to 9.1%. Last year at the same time it was 11.5%. Columbia County notched up two-tenths to 9% even while Jefferson County went up a half percent to 9.6%. Green Lake County is in double digits again at 10.5%, though that is three full percentage points lower than February of 2010. Unemployment in Washington County grew by a half point over the two month period to 8.2%. Fond du Lac County is also up to 8.3%. Dane County continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 5.5%. Door County has the highest rate at 13.9%, followed closely by Menominee and Rusk counties. Statewide, the jobless rate is at 8.5%, down almost two full points from a year ago. Nationwide, unemployment is down one-tenth to 8.9%. Officials say it’s not unusual for the rates to go up in February, as more job-seekers resume their searches for work. Those who stop looking for jobs are not counted in the state-and-local rates. Meanwhile, only four of Wisconsin’s 12 metro areas lost jobs from January-to-February. The Madison area created the most jobs last month on a seasonally-adjusted basis – around 14-hundred, or over a quarter of the statewide total of 52-hundred. Wausau created the next-highest number of jobs with 700 during the month starting in mid-January. Green Bay was next with 400 jobs created. The only areas with net job losses were Milwaukee with 300 – Oshkosh and Racine with 200 each – and Janesville with 100 jobs lost.

OSHA Fines Jefferson Plant $45K

3/31/11 - Federal workplace safety officials have recommended 45-thousand-dollars in fines for 10 violations at the Tyson Foods’ plant in Jefferson. The U-S Occupational Safety-and-Health Administration issued citations after an inspection of the plant last October. OSHA said the violations included inadequacies in the plant’s respiratory program, a lack of protections against falls, and a lack of maintenance on its industrial vehicles. The firm has two weeks to respond to OSHA.

Columbus Hosts Business Luncheon

3/31/11 - Nine Columbus businesses received awards at Tuesday’s 2010 Business of the Year Luncheon. A new “energy sustainability” category was added to the awards this year. Columbus Family Dental won that honor. Other winners included Wisconsin Pottery in the craft category, Redbud Day Care Center as a service provider, Napoli Restaurant as the downtown business and Secret Garden Floral as the top front window display retailer. The newest winner was “Sweet Cake Design” custom bakery. The fastest growing business was Discount Office Supplies dot com. G.D Roberts / Fisk Tank Carriers was recognized in the manufacturing category for their expansion into the former Maysteel Building.

Lambeau Roundabouts Scrapped

3/31/11 - Most Packer fans won’t have to deal with roundabouts when they go to-and-from Lambeau Field. The state D-O-T has scrapped plans to put the round traffic regulators at the Lombardi and Oneida Street exits as part of a major re-building of the Highway 41 expressway. Traffic signals will go there instead. Up to 28 roundabouts were considered for the Brown County portion of the 937-million-dollar improvements. Project manager Kris Schuller said there’s been strong support for roundabouts at other locations. But officials concluded that traffic lights would be better for handling the high traffic volumes near the stadium and its major shopping complex – even though the lights would be more expensive. A couple years ago, the Packers expressed opposition to the roundabouts. Critics said they might cause more accidents by fans drinking at the games. The Lombardi Avenue intersection won’t be re-done until late next year. The Oneida Street project begins is set for mid-2014.

DMV Closed Friday For Furloughs

3/31/11 - You won’t be able to take a driver’s test on April Fools’ Day. The state’s Division of Motor Vehicles will be closed Friday. Its employees will be taking one of the eight unpaid furlough days they’re supposed to have in the current fiscal year to help balance the state budget. The D-M-V’s automated phone line will be available for those who want to make appointments for road tests, and get other recorded information. Also, officials remind people that many D-M-V services are available at places like banks, grocery stores, and police stations – where they can register their vehicles, get titles, and more. Also, the state Corrections’ Department says it will have limited public services on Monday – and they’ll resume normal business hours on Tuesday.

Top Stories, March 30th

Beaver Dam Aldermanic Candidates on WBEV

3/30/11 - Beaver Dam Ward Five Aldermanic candidate Mick Fischer told us on WBEV’s Community Comment yesterday that there should have been a referendum to gauge public support before the council approved the new police station. Incumbent Alderman Aaron Onsrud says the public was heavily involved in the process and elected officials are ultimately accountable to the taxpayer in making such decisions. Both candidates agree the project was needed. Both candidates also support the proposed location for a possible new senior center. Onsrud says the city should heavily support fundraising efforts for any new facility. Fischer says the council should wait a couple years before even considering financial support.

Local Republicans Support Prosser

3/30/111 - Two prominent Dodge County Republicans have thrown their support behind State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser. Sheriff Todd Nehls and District Attorney Kurt Klomberg are among the over 70 sheriff’s and DA’s endorsing Prosser. His challenger, Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg has picked up the endorsement of the Madison Professional Police Officers Association, Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. We’ll air recent interviews we had with both candidates on WBEV’s Community Comment this afternoon beginning at 12:35pm.

Jeff Fitzgerald On Community Comment This Friday

3/30/11 - Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald will be on Community Comment this Friday at 12:35pm. The Republican from Horicon will join us for the hour to discuss the state’s fiscal situation and the planned restrictions on public unions. At 2pm we’ll be hearing from local union representatives about the pending legislative action that would take away many of their collective bargaining rights. Following that discussion, we’ll air our pre-recorded conversation with the four Beaver Dam school board candidates that are competing for three open seats in the April election. Community Comment airs weekdays on 1430AM.

Chamber Hosts Candidates Forum Tonight

3/30/11 - The Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual Spring Election Candidates Forum tonight. Among those planning on being in attendance: the four candidates seeking three open seats on the Beaver Dam School Board. That includes incumbents Kimberly Darst, Lisa Panzer, Joanne Tyjeski and challenger Michale Carter. Beaver Dam Ward 5 incumbent Alderman Aaron Onsrud is confirmed for tonight along with his challenger, former alderman Mick Fischer. Also on hand: the candidates running for Beaver Dam Town Board Supervisor, Dean Hughes and Jeff Schmidt. Each candidate will be given an opportunity to make opening and closing statements, as well as answer questions from the media and the public. Candidates in uncontested races have also been invited to attend. The Candidates Forum is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Beaver Dam Veterans Center on Beichl Avenue from 7pm to 8:30pm. The moderator is our own John Moser. The forum will be broadcast live tonight on WBEV 1430AM and rebroadcast this Saturday at 10:40am.

Burnt Vehicle Connected To Madison Disappearance

3/30/11 - Columbia County authorities say a body found in a burnt-out car Monday morning near Columbus belonged to a person who has been missing from the Madison area since December. Police spokesman Joel DeSpain said that the car is registered to Joseph Sjoberg. However, the identity of the person in the car has not been confirmed and the cause of death remains unknown. Police are also trying to determine the cause of the fire. DeSpain says there are no apparent signs of foul play. The vehicle was found at a rural property off Highway 60 near Highway 16. Sheriff Dennis Richards says the car had been there for quite some time.

Employee Enters Into Deferred Prosecution For Thefts

3/30/11 - A Beaver Dam woman entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement Tuesday to charges that she stole thousands of dollars from a former employer. Mary A. Frechette pled to felony Theft for stealing $4600 from a Beaver Dam Kwik Trip. According to the criminal complaint, the 44-year-old falsified cigarette refunds and pocketing the money. Management discovered the shortfall with inventory software and then reviewed video surveillance before connecting it to Frechette. As part of the agreement, she will have the charges dismissed if she stays out of trouble for a year.

Guard Pleads To Misdemeanor Battery

3/30/11 - A Waupun man who assaulted an inmate while working at the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun will be sentenced tomorrow. Driftten Kitzman entered an Alford Plea and was found guilty of misdemeanor Battery and had two felony charges dismissed. As part of an Alford Plea, a defendant admits there is sufficient evidence to be found guilty but does not admit to the act. According to the criminal complaint, another guard punched the inmate in the mouth and Kitzman intervened as the two struggled. Kitzman threw the inmate on the ground face first, kneeled on his head and punched him in the ribs while saying, “Stop resisting.” The 42-year-old correctional officer told investigators he was using tactics intended to gain compliance.

Columbus HS Principal Search Narrowed

3/30/11 - Columbus Schools have narrowed the search for a new High School Principal down to three candidates. Remaining candidates Brian Seguin from Portage and Jeff Mastin from Oakfield Schools were interviewed last Wednesday. The third candidate, Stephanie Phernetton from Racine, was unable to travel to Columbus because of medical precautions due to a pregnancy. The third candidate is likely to be interviewed using computer conferencing technology next week. The naming of the next Principal for Columbus High could come by mid-April.

Columbus School Receive National Recognition

3/30/11 - Columbus Schools has received National recognition by being placed on the Advanced Placement Achievement List. Columbus was one of 388 Districts in the U.S. and one of 20 in Wisconsin to be recognized. Columbus ranks towards the top of Districts who get students to take A.P. Tests and get good grades. College-level Advanced Placement courses often give students greater confidence to succeed and lead to higher performance in college course work.

Budget Eliminates Outside Contractor Study Requirements

3/30/11 - Governor Scott Walker’s proposed state budget would end the requirement to study the costs-and-benefits of getting outside contractors for state work. Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch discussed the measure Tuesday, as the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee started five days of briefings on Walker’s spending package for the next two years. The cost-and-benefit studies were adopted after reports that the former Doyle administration was outsourcing work that state employees could do for less. The current law says agencies must determine the costs-and-benefits of out-sourcing projects that cost at least 25-thousand dollars. Huebsch said the law was too cumbersome – and it required an analysis for projects that state employees couldn’t do anyway. Former Governor Jim Doyle also tried to do away with the cost-comparisons in his 2009 budget – but lawmakers left it in.

Huebsch Appears Before Joint Finance

3/30/11 - The head of Governor Scott Walker’s administration is defending some of his boss’s most controversial budget items today. Mike Huebsch spoke up to lawmakers in favor of the plan to dump community recycling grants, and to separate U-W Madison from the rest of the university system. His comments came during a hearing by the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, which is starting the long process of rewriting Walker’s budget package for the next two years. Huebsch said most communities would either pay on their own to continue recycling – or else private companies would provide the service. Huebsch also said the governor considered letting other U-W campuses have the autonomy he’s seeking for Madison – but Walker concluded that other schools were not as prepared for the change as Madison. Chancellor Biddy Martin has been working for a year on the plan, which would free the school from the state’s bureaucratic personnel-and-spending rules, and let the campus set its own tuition. Last week, all the other U-W chancellors expressed support for a plan to give them such autonomy as well.

Illinois Businesses Migrating North

3/30/11 - Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch tells the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee a better tax climate is drawing businesses from Illinois to Wisconsin. Huebsch was giving testimony on the Governor Walker’s proposed budget. Among the businesses mentioned, Rockton, Illinois-based Fat Wallet, which will bring at least 50 jobs to Beloit, and Crystal Lake, Illinois-based Catalyst Exhibits, moving to Pleasant Prairie with 105 positions. The Secretary of Administration noted Wisconsin added over 10,000 jobs in January and the Job Centers of Wisconsin website currently lists 26,000 open positions. He attributed Walker’s “innovative” polices passed during a special legislative session.

Petition Drives Reach Halfway Point

3/30/11 - Petition drives are around the halfway point to force recall elections against 16 Wisconsin senators. And some petitioners say it’s getting tough to find people to sign as the 60-day time limit drags on. U-W Green Bay professor Michael Kraft says the longer a petition drive goes on, the harder it is to keep volunteers and potential signers motivated. Therefore, Kraft says it’s important to have most signatures in the can by the time the 30-day mark comes around. Wisconsin recall elections require petition signatures from 25-percent of those who voted in the last election for governor. That’s a high standard. And as a result, some observers say only about half of the 16 targeted senators will actually face recall votes this summer or fall. Petition deadlines are in the last week of April for most of the eight Democrats who are targeted. The deadline is May 2nd to file signatures for all eight Republicans whom people are trying to recall. The G-O-P lawmakers are being criticized for their votes in favor of the union bargaining restrictions. The Democrats are targeted for being away from the Capitol for three weeks and holding up a vote on the union package. As of earlier today, two of the recall groups have filed campaign reports. The group hoping to recall Senate Democrat Bob Wirch of Kenosha County has raised almost 11-thousand dollars. And the group to recall Senate Democrat Dave Hansen of Green Bay raised 11-hundred. But political parties and special interest groups seem to be doing most of the heavy fund-raising. State Democrats say they’ve raised one-point-one million dollars. Their goal is to gain at least three seats this year, and win back the majority in the Senate.

Top Stories, March 29th

Madison Street Bridge Reinforcement Discussed


3/29/11 - The railing along the Madison Street Bridge in Beaver Dam will be replaced next week. The bridge, located at the intersection with Ryan Cantafio’s Way in downtown Beaver Dam, has been the site of several crashes in recent years that resulted in a car plunging into the Beaver Dam River. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says Beaver Blacksmith is currently repairing the railing is it should be installed next week. The city will also be installing a solar-powered LED illuminated street sign that reads “Curve Ahead, Slow Down.” Stoiser says northbound motorists should be able to see the sign from a half mile down Madison Street. He says they are also considering the installation of a concrete wall intended to prevent cars from plunging into the river in the future. Costs are estimated at $166,000 and would likely have to budgeted for through the city’s annual borrowing plan. Two cars have crashed through the railings of the Madison Street Bridge since last August, the most recent occurred on February 6. A 33-year-old Mayville man was arrested for OWI after being rescued from the river. The railing itself costs around $5000 to replace. City officials are seeking restitution from the drivers.


LSD Designs Ready To Be Shelved


3/29/11 - The Beaver Dam Operations Committee last night reviewed updated designs for the reconstruction of Lake Shore Drive. Funding for the actual construction of the project was rejected in January after the Administrative Committee determined that the city had already accumulated too much debt from the new police station. Mike Laue with MSA Professional services told the Operations Committee last night that the design details roadway and sidewalk width, traffic and erosion controls, and street lighting and signage. The city could have saved about $4000 of the $35,000 price tag by scrapping the designs. Chair Laine Meyer says it would be foolish to throw that away and not get a finished product. While immediate plans call for it to sit on a shelf, the designs can still be used when the project is revived. They could also help affected property owners determine where their property line is and distinguish their property from the right-of-way when it comes time for spring planting. It also sets basic standards for street elevations if they are thinking about adding or repairing driveways or making other front yard improvements. The city was also expecting to get a Certified Survey Map as part of their original bid, but Laue says that remains incomplete and may cost additional dollars to finish.


Fiscal Bureau Refutes Walkers Numbers


3/29/11 - The Legislative Fiscal Bureau says it’s not true that Governor Scott Walker’s proposed new state budget would cut overall spending. The non-partisan fiscal analysts released their report today. It shows a one-percent spending hike when all funding sources and transfers are considered. When the Republican Walker unveiled his budget plan four weeks ago, he said it would cut spending by around six-percent – or four-billion dollars. But the Fiscal Bureau said that didn’t include amounts transferred to quasi-public authorities like U-W Madison, and the new public-private job creation agency that will replace the Commerce Department. When those monies are added in, the Fiscal Bureau says the next budget is 609-million dollars bigger than the current one. Spending in the state’s general account would rise by 488-million-dollars, or one-point-seven percent. The non-partisan analysis also shows full-time state employment would drop by a net of 12-hundred posts. And the next budget would have a slim balance of 107-million-dollars to handle emergencies.


Madison Mayor Holding State Budget Hearing


3/29/11 - Legislators will not hold a public hearing in Wisconsin’s capital on the proposed new state budget – so the mayor of Madison says he’ll hold his own. Dave Cieslewicz is holding a community meeting on Wednesday night at Madison Memorial High School. And he wants local leaders in his area to explain how Governor Scott Walker’s budget for the next two years would affect them. They’ll also hear what the general public has to say. Cieslewicz says the meeting will be videotaped, and copies will be given to the Republican Walker and the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee – whose nearest official public hearing is about 70 miles from the Capitol. The finance panel normally rewrites the governor’s budget – even if the two are from the same party. The four official hearings will be in Stevens Point on April seventh, Minong near Superior on April eighth, West Allis on the 11th, and Arcadia on April 13th. Assembly Democrat Mark Pocan of Madison praised the mayor’s decision to hold a hearing in that city. He said that hearing from the public is quote, “a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s open government tradition that those running government have forgotten lately.”


Kratz Not Facing Criminal Charges


3/29/11 - The former Calumet County prosecutor who resigned after sending racy text messages to a domestic abuse victim will not face criminal charges. The state Justice Department said today that Ken Kratz’s behavior was inappropriate – but it did not satisfy the elements needed to win a criminal conviction. Assistant attorney general Tom Storm led an investigation into whether Kratz committed sexual assault or misconduct-in-public-office. Fourteen women complained about inappropriate encounters with Kratz, after Stephanie Van Groll went to the police about his suggestive text messages. That was a few months before the case went public last summer. By then, the Justice Department and the state’s Office of Lawyer Regulation had considered into disciplining Kratz. Neither did, but both later re-opened their probes after the allegations were made public. Former Governor Jim Doyle’s administration was planning to hold a hearing on whether to force Kratz out-of-office when the D-A resigned last October. His lawyer, Robert Bellin, says he’s pleased with today’s decision. And he’s trying to determine if people lied so they could hurt Kratz. He became internationally-known as a prosecutor when he sent Steven Avery to prison for murder, after Avery spent 18 years in prison for a rape he didn’t commit. Kratz also made the tabloids for prosecuting four women who lured a man to a motel, and then glued his sex organ to his stomach for cheating on his wife. All four women arranged plea bargains which kept them out of jail.


BD Man Charges With Workplace Theft


3/29/11 - A Beaver Dam man is accused of embezzling from Ballweg Turf and Leisure. Jeffrey Schmuhl is charged with felony Theft in a Business Setting for allegedly withholding paperwork from cash transactions and pocketing the money. According to the criminal complaint, the 24-year-old admitted that he kept $2800 from the sale of a tractor but denied involvement with a missing $900 snow blower. Schmuhl could spend over four years in prison, if convicted. A signature bond was set at $1000 and a preliminary hearing is set for May.


Waupun Man Faces Child Porn Possession Charges


3/29/11 - A Waupun man is accused of possession child pornography. Spencer Andrle was charged with four felony counts after undercover internet investigators say the 28-year-old downloaded movies and pictures with pre-teen girls from a file sharing website. If convicted, the charges carry a maximum 100 year prison sentence. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May.


BDPD Searching for Hit and Run Driver


3/29/11 - Authorities in Beaver Dam are on the lookout for a car that struck a young bicyclist and fled the scene. It happened Sunday afternoon around 2:45pm on the 600 block of North Spring Street near Rechek’s Food Pride. The car is described as gray in color with Badger decals and stickers all over it. The 13-year-old boy riding the bicycle sustained minor injured but refused EMS transport. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department.


Inmate Meal Cutbacks Considered


3/29/11 - A state lawmaker says reducing the number of meals fed to inmates at Wisconsin prisons could save a lot of money. State Representative Mark Radcliffe is backing legislation that would feed inmates two meals a day, instead of the current three. Radcliffe says inmates would still get the same number of calories each day, just in fewer meals. He says that should allow it to stand up against any court challenge because the law only says inmates need to be treated humanely. He also believes corrections workers could handle any unrest that comes from inmates having their meal times cut back. This is the second time Radcliffe has introduced the proposal. Legislation mandating the change did not pass last session.


Average Voter Turnout Projected


3/29/11 - Activists are making a lot of noise about next Tuesday’s State Supreme Court election – but don’t look for a higher turnout because of it. State Government Accountability Board director Kevin Kennedy said today that about one-of-every-five eligible voters will probably cast ballots next week. And that’s similar to previous years. Over the last decade, Kennedy said around 18-to-21 percent turned out in elections that had Supreme Court contests. This time, the court’s conservative majority is at stake as incumbent Justice David Prosser faces Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg. If Prosser loses, the court would lose its 4-3 conservative edge. And that’s made Kloppenburg a lot more popular with Democrats and union supporters who say her election could make it easier to eventually overturn the G-O-P’s law on union bargaining restrictions. Numerous local government, school board contests, and school referendums are also on next Tuesday’s ballots.


Beaver Dam Aldermanic Candidates on WBEV

3/29/11 - Our election coverage continues today on WBEV’s Community Comment. This afternoon we’ll be sitting down with the aldermanic candidates in the city of Beaver Dam’s only contested race. Ward Five incumbent Alderman Aaron Onsrud is being challenged by former alderman Mick Fischer. Community Comment airs weekdays on WBEV 1430AM beginning at 12:35pm.

Top Stories March 28th

Fitzgerald Defends Budget Plan On Community Comment


3/28/11 - State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald joined us on WBEV’s Community Comment on Friday. The Republican from Juneau defended the governors efforts to make permanent the public employee union restrictions saying that it will put the state in a better position for long term growth and make significant reforms to the way state business is run.

One caller praised the work of Fitzgerald and his fellow Republicans for “finally sticking up for the taxpayers.” Fitzgerald refuted assertions that the plan is meant bust unions and instead called it “top-down” reform. He called it a deep philosophical difference that some believe that unions, as strong as they are, should be allowed to organize against school boards, city councils and taxpayers. Fitzgerald’s appearance was last minute. We are also making arrangements with democrats and/or union supports to get equal time to state their case. Representatives with Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald tell us the Horicon Republican looks forward to being on WBEV just as soon as our schedules allow.

Election Coverage Continues On Community Comment

3/28/11 - We’ll be hearing from more of the candidates in contested aldermanic and school board races this week on WBEV’s Community Comment. On today’s program, we’ll speak with the candidates seeking the District One seat on the Waupun Common Council. Julie Nickel and April Cox are seeking the replace Dale Schmidt, who recently resigned. Tomorrow we’ll sit down with the candidates in the city of Beaver Dam’s only contested race. Ward Five incumbent Alderman Aaron Onsrud is being challenged by former alderman Mick Fischer. On Wednesday, we’ll hear from the candidates in Wisconsin’s only statewide election. State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser will state his case for re-election as will his challenger Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg. We conclude our election coverage on Thursday, with the four candidates competing for three seats on the Beaver Dam School Board: incumbents Joanne Tyjeski, Lisa Panzer and Kim Darst will be joined by challenger Mickale Carter. Community Comment airs weekdays on WBEV 1430AM beginning at 12:35pm.

Publishing Budget Repair Bill Could Hurt Prosser

3/28/11 - Political observers said Republicans may have hurt their chances of having Wisconsin’s public union bargaining restrictions upheld in the courts. Marquette professor Rick Esenberg said Friday’s move to have the Legislative Reference Bureau publish the bargaining law may have riled up the public unions and their liberal base just a week before the Supreme Court election. Esenberg said it could hurt conservative Justice David Prosser in his re-election bid, while helping his opponent JoAnne Kloppenburg. If Prosser loses, the court loses its 4-to-3 conservative majority – presumably making it easier for opponents of the union restrictions to strike them down. U-W Madison political scientist Howard Schweber wondered if the G-O-P was thinking how the law’s publication would affect Prosser’s re-election chances. Senate G-O-P Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said he’s not sure how it would affect Prosser’s fate. But Fitzgerald said he brought up the law’s publication because the Reference Bureau was obligated to publish it when it did. The Walker administration assumes the law’s in effect. But a circuit judge halted it by telling the secretary-of-state not to have it published – which he didn’t. Judge Maryann Sumi put a temporary restraining order on the law’s adoption until she could decide if lawmakers broke the state Open Meeting Law when they passed it. A hearing on that question begins tomorrow.

BD School Board to Discuss Staffing

3/28/11 - We should learn more tonight about possible layoffs in the Beaver Dam School District. The school board will hear a recommendation from administrators about the staffing plan for the 2011-2012 school year. Earlier this month officials said the district is facing a $2.9-million deficit in the upcoming school year, and while some of that will be made up with employees paying more into their pension accounts, they said layoffs are likely. We’ll also find out if the district plans to take any action against teachers who called in on February 17th forcing the schools to close. That was the day that more than a dozen school districts were forced to close as thousands of teachers and other public employees converged on Madison to protest Governor Scott Walker’s budget repair bill, which strips them of most of their collective bargaining rights. The board meets at 6:30 p-m at the Educational Service Center.

Green Bay Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

3/28/11 - The son of a Green Bay area church pastor has been killed in Afghanistan. The Pentagon said yesterday that 22-year-old Army Specialist Justin Ross of Green Bay died on Saturday, after his unit was attacked by small arms fire. Gerald Heins, the associate pastor at New Freedom Church in Howard, said parishioners did not have many details yesterday. Heins said Pastor Ron Ross and his wife Debbie went to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to bring back their son’s body – and funeral services are still pending. Justin Ross graduated from Bay Port High School in 2007, and was deployed to Afghanistan last August. Governor Scott Walker’s office issued a statement saying they hope Ross’s family-and-friends take “some measure in comfort in knowing that he is a Wisconsin hero.”

Funeral Held for Fond du Lac Police Officer

3/28/11 - More than 1,000 law enforcement officers attended the funeral of Fond du Lac Police Officer Craig Birkholz in his hometown of Kenosha Saturday. Fond du Lac police officers and their wives gathered early that chilly morning to board three charter buses and were led by a procession of squad cars out of the city. Along the way they were joined by hundreds of other squad cars. In addition to police departments from across Wisconsin, officers from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and elsewhere were there to show their support and pay tribute to Birkholz who was shot and killed responding to a sexual assault complaint on Sunday, March 20th. Meanwhile, In a week marked by tragedy and grief the police department got a ray of hope last Friday afternoon. Just five days after being critically wounded in the same shooting that killed Officer Birkholz, Officer Ryan Williams was discharged from Theda Clark Medical Center. Williams was driven through the parking lot of the police station yelling out thanks to a cheering crowd. He attended the funeral of Officer Birkholz in Kenosha Saturday sitting in a wheel chair, but stood and saluted when the casket bearing his fellow officer passed. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)

Car vs Deer Crashes Down

3/28/11 - Wisconsin drivers struck 17-percent fewer deer in 2010 than they did a decade earlier. According to preliminary D-O-T figures, just under 17-thousand car-deer crashes were reported in the Badger State last year. That’s about 600 more accidents than in 2009. But it’s well below the nearly 20-thousand-500 deer mishaps reported in 2000. State Patrol Major Dan Lonsdorf said the recession and high gas prices are resulting in fewer people on the roads. And that’s how he explains the drop in deer mishaps. The lowest number of car-deer crashes during the last decade was in 2008, when the recession told hold and Wisconsinites just started feeling the effects of the financial industry’s collapse. The papers also cited a survey by State Farm Insurance. It says Wisconsin drivers have a 1-in-96 chance of hitting a deer this year. That’s the eighth-highest ratio in the country.

Trinity Dancers Raise $5K For BDCH Foundation

3/28/11 - The Trinity Irish Dancers raised over $5000 in a fundraiser for the Beaver Dam Community Hospital Foundation this month. It was the third straight year the dancers performed in the city. The dance troupe is composed of girls and boys ages six to 18 from Madison and Milwaukee. Students of the Trinity Academy have earned an unprecedented 32 world titles for the United States and have won nine gold medals at international Irish Dance competitions. The proceeds from the event will be directed to the automated external defibrillator, or AED Program, and Hillside Hospice. Through a matching fund program in partnership with community organizations and individuals, AEDs have been provided for local police departments, city halls and school districts, among others.

BDUSD Accepting Employee of the Year Nominations

3/28/11 - The Beaver Dam Unified School District is currently seeking nominations for the Teacher, Administrator, and Support Staff of the Year Award program. Awards will be presented in the following categories: Elementary Teacher, Middle School Teacher, High School Teacher, Administrator/Coordinator, Special Services Teacher, Secretary, Teacher Assistant, Food Service Worker, and Custodial/Maintenance/Computer Technician. Nominees will be considered primarily on the significance of their contributions to the well-being of the educational community. Names of local teachers and administrators selected from each category will be sent to CESA 6. Representatives selected at this level will be sent to the state teacher and administrator of the year competition. Parents, students, and community members who would like to nominate an employee for this honor, may do so by obtaining a nomination form, available at any public school office, the Educational Service Center, or the district website at www.beaverdam.k12.wi.us. Completed nominations may be delivered to the Educational Service Center at 705 McKinley Street, Beaver Dam. The deadline for submitting a nomination form is Friday, April 15, 2011.

Top Stories March 27th

Debate Continues on Whether Bill is in Effect


3/27/11 - One side says the law is in effect while the other side says it’s not. The law being debated is the controversial one that takes away nearly all of the collective bargaining rights for public workers. The non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau published the law on Friday despite a restraining order put in place by a Dane County Judge last week. While Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says every lawyer he’s spoken with says the law is in effect, Democratic leaders say it isn’t. And the director of the bureau that published it, Steve Miller, agrees saying it won’t be an actual law until Secretary of State Doug La Follette orders it to be published in the state’s official newspaper, and that hasn’t happened yet. Most believe a decision on the bill itself will come from the Supreme Court and a former justice said they could make a case for both sides.

Two Vehicle Accident Injures One

3/27/11 - One person was injured in a minor two-vehicle accident last night in the town of Beaver Dam. It happened just after 8:30 p-m on County Trunk B near North Spring Street. The passenger in one of the vehicles was taken to Beaver Dam Community Hospital. The driver of that vehicle had a warrant out for his arrest and was taken to jail. The other driver was not injured.

Birkholz Remembered in Kenosha

3/27/11 - Fond du Lac police officer Craig Birkholz was remembered as a hero who always put others first. Birkholz was memorialized in his home town of Kenosha yesterday. Hundreds of people lined the funeral route as a procession of police cars drove by with their emergency lights flashing. The casket was carried inside the church while mourners saluted. The Kenosha Tremper graduate had served tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. The 28 year old earned a degree in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He had ambitions of being a U.S. Marshal or an FBI agent. Birkholz died after being shot in the chest by James Cruckson early last Sunday morning. Cruckson would later commit suicide during the shootout with police and an investigation into the incident continues. Another officer, Ryan Williamson, survived being shot and is recovering at Theda Clark Medical Center.

Contributions to 401K Plans Down

3/27/11 - A Wisconsin-based company reports the percentage of employers offering health insurance to their workers was steady last year, but those making contributions to 401-K plans was down. The Management Association of Pewaukee released the figures last week. More than 23 hundred companies were surveyed last year. Researchers found 78 percent offered single-coverage health plans and more than 69 percent offered family coverage. The number of companies offering guaranteed 401-K contributions dropped from 58-point-6 percent to a little under 49 percent.

All Campuses Sign On to Wisconsin Idea Partnership Except Madison

3/27/11 - Chancellors of UW extension and all the UW campuses – with the exception of UW Madison’s Biddy Martin -- have signed on to the Wisconsin Idea Partnership, a reaction to Martin’s New Badger Partnership which spins off the Madison campus. UW Parkside chancellor Debbie Ford doesn’t think that’s a good idea. “Creating another system of governance for higher education at a time dwindling resources is going to lead to greater competition,” said Ford. “I believe strongly in a unified system of higher education, and that’s what we’ve had for over 40 years.” The proposal from the system chancellors gives each campus greater flexibility, something Martin seeks for the Madison campus. The difference is, this does not split the flagship Madison campus off from the rest of the system. And while Governor Scott Walker has included the Badger partnership in this two year state budget, UW River Falls chancellor Dean Van Gallen believes Walker may be willing to take a look at their plan. In addition to greater autonomy for each campus, the Wisconsin Idea Partnership would loosen the UW Board of Regents authority to set tuition.

Billionaire Charged with Sexual Assault

3/27/11 - A member of the Johnson family that runs SC Johnson and Son Incorporated faces a sexual assault charge. Billionaire Samuel Curtis Johnson is accused of sexually assaulting a girl for three years. She is now 15 years old. Johnson was charged with repeated sexual assault of a child last week in Racine County Circuit Court. Johnson is the former chairman of Diversey, Incorporated, a cleaning products company associated with SC Johnson.

Marquette to Offer Domestic Partner Benefits

3/27/11 - Starting next school year, Marquette University will offer domestic partner benefits to its employees. The move comes about a year after the Catholic, Jesuit university rescinded a job offer to a lesbian professor from Seattle. At the time, school officials said the decision on Jodi O'Brien had nothing to do with her sexual orientation, but the move brought on a loud debate over the issue. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports the medical, dental and vision benefits offered to married couples and their dependents will be extended to domestic partners who are registered starting in 2012. The get the benefits the same-gender couples have to share a residence and declare their partnership by registering with the clerk in the county where they reside.

Appeals Court Upholds Sick Pay Law

3/27/11 - After two years of legal battles, a court of appeals has upheld the sick pay law in place in Milwaukee. The decision came last week. The city ordinance requires big companies to offer up to nine days of sick leave each year, while smaller companies will have to offer five days. Those fighting against the ordinance say it will restrict economic development in Wisconsin's largest cities, making companies not want to locate there. The court ruling means the Milwaukee sick pay law has been reinstated.

Group Can Resume Feeding Homeless at the Capitol

3/27/11 - A volunteer group that feeds the homeless says it has been told it can resume its weekly program at the state Capitol a week from today. Capitol police barred the Savory Sunday group from the statehouse during the protests over Governor Walker's budget plan, then wouldn't allow them to shelter themselves under the portico of the Capitol last week, despite cold and rainy conditions. Savory Sunday has been serving meals to mostly homeless people at the Capitol for years. Though the group has been cleared to return, it has been told that the agreement is "week-to-week."

Top Stories, March 26th

Publication Action Unclear

3/26/11 - It isn't clear what Friday's action means. The nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau published the governor's controversial law taking away nearly all public worker collective bargaining rights. Does that mean the law is in effect today? Republican Senator Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says that's exactly what it means. The director of the bureau that published the law disagrees. Steve Miller says it won't actually go into effect until Secretary of State Doug La Follette orders the law published in a newspaper. A judge has blocked that. And, La Follette says he's not sure what yesterday's publication means. He thinks it may be up to the lawyers and courts to decide.

Public Hearings On Budget Scheduled

3/26/11 - The first of four public hearings on Governor Scott Walker's two-year budget plan for Wisconsin will be held April 8 in Stevens Point. The Legislature Joint Finance Committee will be holding the meetings in what it's calling geographically diverse locations to clear the way for as much citizen input as possible. The second hearing will be in Minong April 8, followed by a third April 11 at State Fair Park and the final one April 13 in Arcadia. The committee is co-chaired by Senator Alberta Darling and state Representative Robin Vos. Those two say they are still committed to passing the budget before the current fiscal year comes to a close June 30.

Fitzgerald Responds To Recycling Concerns on WBEV

3/26/11 - Governor Scott Walker’s plan to drop state recycling funds is getting some big organized opposition. Four recycling organizations have rounded up the support. And over 150 Wisconsin cities, counties, businesses, and other groups wrote a joint letter to Walker and legislators this week to urge that the status quo continue. They said recycling plays a big role in Wisconsin’s economy, and those efforts should be a high priority for the state. As part of Walker’s next state budget, the state mandate for community recycling programs would end – and so would their state funding. But the law that requires Wisconsinites to recycle would continue – leaving individual residents to contract for recycling on their own. But opponents say it will result in more recyclables being tossed in the garbage and buried in landfills – and that costs more than the current recycling efforts. At least four G-O-P legislators have urged that the state’s current programs remain. Senator Scott Fitzgerald addressed the issue when he appeared on WBEV’s Community Comment yesterday. The Juneau Republican says this is a perfect example of a mandate that many municipalities have said they do not want. Fitzgerald says it is a complex issue and it is possible that the Joint Finance Committee finds a compromise.

Planned Parenthood Rallies At Capitol

3/26/11 - Supporters of Planned Parenthood rallied at the Capitol Friday. Governor Scott Walker is proposing to eliminate the Title V Maternal and Child Health Program which uses state and federal money to provide family planning services. “Our services have no place in balancing a state budget,” said Meg Robertson, a nurse practitioner with Planned Parenthood. “This absolutely vicious attack on reproductive health rights of both women and men is deplorable.” Planned Parenthood’s “Big Pink Bus” made a stop on the Capitol Square. The bus is on a national tour, as family planning services face budget threats in state budgets from House Republicans in Washington.

Capitol Restrictions Continue

3/26/11 - Weeks after protests and a ruling opening the Wisconsin Capitol building open to the public again, one lawmaker says extreme security measures remain in place and they are discouraging people from visiting. Currently, public access to the Capitol is restricted to two entrances, compared to the eight normally open during the day. Visitors must pass through metal detectors and submit to searches before they can enter. State Representative Cory Mason says there have been no indications why those policies are still needed, with only a few protesters entering the building on any given weekday. He says it’s time to give the people their Capitol back. The Department of Administration says current policies do comply with a court order to keep the building open to the public while still working to protect the safety of those inside in the Capitol. A spokeswoman says the agency is working to balance the rights of visitors to assemble and ensure the safety of those inside. They are also meant to keep government operations continuing as normal. DOA says no decision has been made yet on when extra security measures will no longer be needed.

Local Cops Cover For Fondy Funeral Attendees

3/26/11 - Fond du Lac Police Officer Ryan Williams waived from a car and thanked a crowd gathered in the parking lot of the police station Friday afternoon as he returned home from Theda Clark Medical Center. Williams was critically wounded at the beginning of the week during a shooting incident that also claimed the life of Officer Craig Birkholz. Williams will be attending Officer Birkholz’s funeral in Kenosha on Saturday. He will be joining 16 squad cars and a couple of coach buses heading to the funeral, which will include most of the Department. It will be the first time in the history of Fond du Lac that a city police officer will not be on duty. Other departments from across the area will be filling in, including law enforcement from the Beaver Dam Police Department and the Dodge County Sheriffs Department.

Health Care Bill Remains Divisive Issue

3/26/11 - Health care advocates are praising the passage of the Affordable Care Act which celebrated its first anniversary this week. A conference call run by Citizen Action of Wisconsin focused on a 35-percent tax credit that small businesses can take advantage of this filing season as long as they provided medical coverage to employees. State Rep. Jon Richards adds that self employed persons can see a 15.3-percent reduction in their insurance costs by taking advantage of a tax deduction that is comparable to what larger companies receive. Not everyone is celebrating the federal law’s anniversary. The president of a Wisconsin free market think tank says “Obamacare” will result in massive debt for future generations. “There is no guarantee that there’s going to be money in the future to pay that tax credit,” says Brett Healey of the MacIver Institute. He says, since the bill’s signing, the public has had a chance to examine the massive legislation and discover high costs to taxpayers. He attributes this as the reason for the growing opposition to the federal law.

Corps Holding Tight On Carp Barrier Voltage

3/26/11 - The Army Corps of Engineers says it might have to jack up the voltage on an electronic barrier in order to keep the invasive Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. A report released Friday said small carp won’t be totally stopped, unless the barrier near the Chicago Sanitary-and-Ship Canal increases its power. But the Corps said it won’t change the voltage immediately. That’s because the nearest carp are said to be over 100-miles away, and there could be safety problems if the voltage is raised without a real need to do so. Wisconsin and other states are trying to keep the bloated carp out of the Great Lakes because it eats up the food that native fish rely upon. State officials say they’re worried that the carp could hurt the seven-billion-dollar Great Lakes fishing industry.

State Art Project Targets Empty Store Fronts

3/26/11 - A new pilot project called “Phantom Art Galleries – Wisconsin” is underway in parts of the state, to beautify the empty stores that plague many downtown areas by showcasing local art. Organizers in Superior are open to all mediums, but note performing arts could be tricky. Marshfield organizers say emerging artists will have a chance to exhibit their work alongside experienced artists. Matt Duckett is with the Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse, another “Phantom Art Galleries” city, which has 30-40 vacant storefronts. Duckett says they’ll rotate the art every month and artists can sell their pieces. The Wisconsin Arts Board is funding the project through a federal grant. Officials say the “Phantom Art Galleries” project is also underway in Chilton, Manitowoc, and Platteville and similar projects have been successful in Chicago, Tucson, and Seattle.

Top Stories March 25th

Supreme Court To Decide Repair Bill Challenge


3/25/11 - A state appeals court refused to decide yesterday whether to keep blocking the new law that virtually ends collective bargaining for public employee unions. The three-judge panel in Madison unanimously agreed that the State Supreme Court should tackle the issue. The justices will first decide whether to take the case. And if so, they’ll rule on whether Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi was correct when she issued a temporary restraining order last Friday against the new union law. It was supposed to take effect tomorrow, but Sumi wants to decide first whether a legislative panel broke the state Open Meetings Law when it passed the measure on March ninth. She’ll begin a hearing on that matter next Tuesday. The Fourth District Appellate Court said there have been conflicting decisions in the past on the same issue – and it said the Supreme Court should sort them out because of the statewide implications involved. Meanwhile, Justice David Prosser – a former Republican Assembly speaker – is up for re-election to the Supreme Court in 11 days. And opponents of the union law are trying to tie him to G-O-P Governor Scott Walker, who served with Prosser in the Assembly in the 1990’s. Yesterday, Prosser said he would not withdraw from the case – and it would be wrong for him to try and delay a decision until after the election. Former Justice Janine Geske, who’s now a Marquette law professor, doesn’t believe the court would rule that quickly anyway. She also said the justices might want to wait on the alleged open meeting violation, because a second lawsuit seeks to strike down the bargaining limits outright.

IN Prosecutor Resigns After Email to Walker

3/25/11 - A prosecutor in Indiana has resigned, after he urged Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to fake an attack on himself, and claim that a public union sympathizer did it. Johnson County assistant prosecutor Carlos Lam admitted sending an e-mail to the Republican Walker on February 19th – right during the massive protests at the State Capitol against the plan to restrict public union bargaining powers. Lam told Walker, quote, “If you could employ an associate who pretends to be sympathetic to the unions’ cause to physically attack you – or even use a firearm against you – you could discredit the public unions.” Lam also said quote, “We cannot have the public unions hold the taxpayer hostage with their outrageous demands.” And the prosecutor urged Walker to “stay strong.” Lam denied writing the e-mail at first, and said it must have come from somebody who hacked into his computer. But he later came clean. And the Indiana prosecutor resigned yesterday, just hours before the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism published the contents. Lam is the second Indiana prosecutor to lose his job over his comments about the Wisconsin protestors. Deputy state attorney general Jeffrey Cox was fired last month, after he tweeted that police should use live ammunition against the protestors.

2 Fort Atkinson Residents Killed

3/25/11 - Two elderly people from Fort Atkinson were killed when their car collided with a semi-truck a few miles east of Stoughton in Dane County. It happened at the same intersection where 69-year-old Margaret McKay of Stoughton was killed in a similar crash eight days ago. Sheriff’s deputies have not identified the victims of yesterday’s accident. They said an 87-year-old man pulled from a stop sign heading east on County Trunk “A.” And he drove into the path of a southbound semi-truck on Highway 73. The man died at the scene along with his 81-year-old female passenger. The truck driver, a 50-year-old Evansville man, was not hurt. And he was not ticketed. All three people were wearing seat belts. In the previous crash, authorities said McKay pulled from the same stop sign, into a path of a northbound semi on 73.

Flooding Remains a Concern

3/25/11 - Flood warnings continue today on a number of rivers in Wisconsin. But the Army Corps of Engineers says the return of sub-freezing temperatures has slowed down the melting of snow – and the agency might wait to decide until next week which communities it will help with flood preparations. On the Mississippi River, Pierce is the only Wisconsin county that’s under an official flood warning. And a flood warning has been canceled on the Kickapoo River at Viola. But the National Weather Service says several rivers within the Badger State remain above their banks this morning, including the Crawfish River at Milford in northern Jefferson County. The river is about 2-inches above flood stage and wasn’t expected to go much higher. The Rock River at Watertown was also near its flood stage as of early this morning.

FLCI Manure Digester Scrapped

3/25/11 - Plans to build a consolidated dairy farm and manure digester at the Fox Lake Correctional Institution have been scrapped. Senate Majority Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau says the Department of Corrections this week indicated that they do not intend to proceed with the project. Fitzgerald says property owners raised concerns about potential damage to water quality and members of the State Building Commission passed an amendment to withdraw the project from the Capital Budget. Construction was originally slated to begin last August but never got past the planning stage because of the water quality concerns.

Mayville Votes Down DPW Contracts

3/25/11 - There will be no new contract for public works employees in Mayville. That’s after the common council voted down the proposed two-year agreement. The contract would have put a freeze on wages for 2011 and 2012, with employees contributing 5% to their health care this year and 12-percent next year. It also had employees paying 2.9% this year for their retirement plans and 5.8% in 2012. Those voting against it were most concerned about the length of the deal, especially with the uncertainty of the budget repair bill and what it would mean for the 2012 budget. A majority of local union contracts passed in recent weeks have been 1-year deals.

Columbus Hires Treasurer

3/25/11 - Columbus has a new Treasurer and Financial Director. City Administrator Boyd Kraemer recommended Village of Cottage Grove Administrator Kim Manley as a successor to Barb Green. The Mayoral appointment of Manley will become official as soon as the City Attorney approves the job description. Mayor Bob Link feels that they have found a person with a “lot of experience.” Manley’s selection was approved by a unanimous vote of the Council earlier this week.

One Contested Seat on Juneau Common Council

3/25/11 - There is one contested race on the Juneau Common Council where Roxanne Buss and John Burgbacher are seeking the Ward Two seat being vacated by John Schuster. Both candidates appeared on WBEV’s Community Comment this week and we asked them about Juneau’s residency requirement that calls for city workers to live within a three mile radius of the city. Buss says that’s too “old-school” and there just are not enough qualified people in the area to the jobs that need to be done. Burgbacher says the radius should be expanded with common sense, in that people in Milwaukee don’t need to be traveling to work in Juneau.

Fond du Lac K9 Recovering

3/25/11 - A Fond du Lac Police dog is recovering from a gunshot would received during Sunday’s shooting, which also claimed the life of one officer and left another wounded. K-9 Grendel is Officer Ryan Williams’ partner. He’s currently at the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center in Grand Chute. Doctor Lisa Peters says Grendel is walking, eating, and drinking again. Although, she says there are still serious injuries to be dealt with. Peters says their main concern for Grendel is infection, but they have him on antibiotics and there are signs the infection in his stomach is clearing. She says the gunshot wound penetrated his abdomen and chest. Officer Williams is still hospitalized in Neenah in serious condition. Fond du Lac Police Captain Steve Klein oversees the department’s K-9 unit. He says both Grendel and his partner are showing remarkable signs of improvement and they are optimistic they will be back out on the road eventually. Klein says they’ll work closely with doctors to find out if the K-9 can return to duty some day.

Leaf Pick-Up Begins Next Week in Beaver Dam

3/25/11 - The Beaver Dam Department of Public Works will begin picking up brush and shrubbery cuttings next Friday, April 1. Facilities Director Dave Stoiser says city residents that receive solid waste collection services can place neatly-piled, loose tree limbs and shrubbery cuttings at the street edge by 7am on their first waste collection day of the month. Pick-up is available only to single family residents and apartment buildings with four units or less. Shrubbery cuttings cannot exceed seven inches in thickness and eight feet in length. Stoiser says if there is enough room in the tree border, limbs should be stacked so that all cut ends are facing the street. Limbs and cuttings less than 12 inches in length can be placed in clear plastic bags or 32 gallon cans. Stoiser says they cannot be placed in Veolia waste carts. Yard waste can also be dropped off at the DPW garage on South Center Street, which after this weekend will be open on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. Brush pick-up continues once a month through the first collection day in November.

Beer At Miller Park: There’s An App For That

3/25/11 - Milwaukee Brewer fans with smart-phones won’t have to wait in line to buy food-and-drinks during the game. The Brewers said today they’ll use a high-tech service called “Bypass Lane,” in which fans can order concessions right from their seats. It will be offered this season at four locations on the Field Level at Miller Park. Menus will be located close by, and fans can place orders on Blackberries, Androids, and similar devices. They’ll play for their food with credit cards. And when it’s ready, fans will get text messages saying to go pick them up. Brewers’ vice president Rick Schlesinger says the latest technology will provide an easier for fans to buy concessions without missing the baseball action on the field.

Top Stories, March 24th

BD Offered Fullerton Lumber Free For Senior Center

3/24/11 - The city of Beaver Dam has been offered a free building for a new Senior Center. The city’s ad-hoc committee last night got an update from the Senior Center’s Building Committee on efforts they’ve undertaken to move to a larger facility. After conducting an in-depth study of three different sites, the Senior Center Committee chose the former Fullerton Lumber building on South Center Street as their top choice. While it may be free, the Fullerton site is the smallest of the sites they looked at and falls well below the 25,000 square feet the Senior Center Committee is seeking. At 13,000 square feet the building, which sits on 1.6 acres, would cost $3.3 million to renovate. Council president Jon Litscher, who chairs the city’s ad hoc committee, says he doesn’t know where the city would get that kind of money and he is concerned that if the city takes ownership there would be pressure to immediately begin renovations. A recent feasibility study determined that between $500,000 and $750,000 could be raised from private donations. The Senior Center currently has around $300,000 in an endowment fund. Community Activities and Services Administrator Evonne Koeppen says while it would be nice to have some financial support from the city, they plan to rely on fundraising and grant money. Members of the ad-hoc committee will be reviewing the architects study and are planning a joint meeting with the city’s Operations and Administrative Committee next month. The Senior Center and Recreation departments were combined in a cost-saving move in 2007. A new building would not be used for recreational programs but would continue to house an office space for rec staff to plan programming and for public registration.

Tears Shed Along Birkholz Procession Route

3/24/11 - The Fond du Lac police K-9 officer who was wounded by a gunman last Sunday is getting better. Ryan Williams was taken off the critical list Wednesday and is now in serious condition at a Neenah hospital. He was taken off a ventilator, and doctors expect him to make a full recovery. The police dog, Grendel, was shot-and-wounded while sitting in the back of Williams’ squad car. The dog is in critical but stable condition at an animal hospital in Appleton. Both were shot by 30-year-old James Cruckson as authorities responded to a sexual assault complaint at his home. 28-year-old officer Craig Birkholz was killed, and Cruckson killed himself during a subsequent standoff. State Justice agents said Williams was wearing both a normal duty vest and a tactical vest – and they probably saved his life. Birkholz was wearing his regular body armor when he was shot in the chest. He will be buried on Saturday in his home town of Kenosha.

Meanwhile, stories of heroism continue to emerge from the tragedy. The Fond du Lac Reporter said officer Zach Schultz – who got hurt falling down a stairway – managed to pull Williams just barely out of the house, where Lieutenant Jason Laridaen continued to get the wounded officer further out of harm’s way. Schultz was holed up in the basement with officer Becky Kollmann, Captain John Gutzmann, and Cruckson’s sister during the gunfire. They all managed to escape unharmed.

One Contested Aldermanic Race In Mayville

3/24/11 - There is one contested race on the Mayville Common Council where newcomer Paul Pogrant is challenging former Alderman Mike Schmidt. Pogrant says if elected, he would work to re-open the city pool, which was closed following extensive flooding in 2008. Schmidt, who also chairs the city’s Police and Fire Commission, says one of his top priorities would be to restore one of the two police officer positions that were cut last year in a budget saving move. Next Monday on Community Comment we’ll hear from the candidates competing in the only contested aldermanic race in the city of Waupun.

Legislation Would Blacklist Porn Watching Teachers

3/24/11 - Teachers who look at pornography from their work computers could lose their state licenses under a bill that’s being proposed in the Legislature. The heads of the Assembly and Senate education committees are asking colleagues to co-sponsor the measure. It stems from the case of Christopher Nelson, spent 20 years in the Randolph school district before moving to Beaver Dam in 1994 where he served as Assistant Principal until 2000. Five years later he was quietly allowed to resign as Madison’s school athletics coordinator after he was caught looking at porn at work. Nelson was arrested in Milwaukee in January for trying to arrange sex with a 15-year-old boy while serving as New Holstein’s school superintendent. After the Wisconsin State Journal uncovered the Madison case, the state School Boards’ Association said teachers should lose their licenses if they get fired for looking at porn on the job. But the new bill goes farther than that. It would add the viewing of porn to a law that currently allows teacher license revocations for incompetency or immoral conduct – and it says nothing about having to be fired first. Porn viewing would be immoral conduct under the bill, which is sponsored by Senate Republican Luther Olsen of Ripon and Assembly Republican Steve Kestell of Elkhart Lake. It would also require the state to post the names of teachers whose licenses are revoked on the Internet.

Appellate Court Rejects Tolonen Retrial

3/24/11 - A state appeals court on Wednesday refused to give a new trial to an Allenton man convicted of shaking a six-month-old girl to death. The Second District Appellate Court didn’t buy the arguments made by Craig Tolonen and his reckless homicide conviction will stand in the death of Serenitee Halbert in August of 2006. The 27-year-old said the jury in his original trial never should have heard what he told police. Tolonen said Washington County prosecutors did not prove that his actions killed the infant. And he said he deserves a new trial because research into shaken baby syndrome has advanced since his conviction. But the appellate judges said the police questioned him properly – and medical evidence tied Tolonen’s actions to the baby’s death. During his 2007 trial, Tolonen argued that detectives lured him into making a confession – and the real killer was the boyfriend of the baby’s mother, who’s in prison for beating another of her children.

Metzger Arraigned In Pharmacy Break-In

3/24/11- A Horicon man accused of breaking into the Marshland Pharmacy and stealing thousands of dollars worth of drugs was in court for an arraignment hearing yesterday. Alexander Metzger stood mute and the court entered a “not guilty” plea on his behalf. Metzger is charged with felony burglary for allegedly smashing in the front glass doors to the pharmacy last September and taking over $3600 of Oxycontin. Police were tipped to the crime by an anonymous call. According to the criminal complaint, a hair found at the crime scene matched one obtained from Metzger. When he was questioned, authorities say the 23-year-old had a white, powdery substance crusted around his nostrils that turned out to be Oxycontin. Metzger could spend over 12 years in prison, if convicted.

Waupun Man Sentenced Following Bizarre Drug Arrest

3/24/11 - A Waupun man will spend 40 days in jail after pleading to reduced drug charges stemming from a bizarre arrest last June. Timothy Lavoie drove a friend to a cell phone store in Waupun. According to the criminal complaint, that friend was in the store trying to activate a phone that the clerk said was stolen. It was not stolen. In her frustration, she left the store without her wallet but returned with LaVoie to reclaim it. But she was only given her identification card back as the clerk decided to steal her wallet. Meanwhile, Lavoie went into the bathroom to get toilet paper to clean up grape juice that had spilled in his car. That’s when the thieving clerk called police to report the toilet paper as stolen. The clerk also said she saw Lavoie drop a baggie with white powder as he returned the toilet paper. A canine sweep of Lavoie’s vehicle uncovered illegal drugs and he was arrested along with the woman whose wallet was stolen. Charges were eventually dismissed against the woman though her mother was also arrested, and later pled guilty to obstructing, for protesting her daughters arrest. It wasn’t until later when Waupun police reviewed video footage from the store that they discovered the clerk had indeed stolen the wallet and lied about it. The clerk pleaded guilty in September to misdemeanor theft charges and was fined $250. Lavoie was charged with felony drug possession but on Tuesday pleaded to reduced misdemeanor charges.