Top Stories, March 15th

Beaver Dam Alderman, Noted Veteran Passes Away

3/15/11 - The Beaver Dam Operations Committee began their meeting last night with a moment of silence for Alderman Howard Abel, who died on Saturday at UW Hospital in Madison at the age of 66. Abel served as alderman in Beaver Dam’s Fourth Ward since May of 2006. Mayor Tom Kennedy says Abel was a great ambassador for the community and noted that his passion helped pave the way for the construction of the city’s new police station. Abel was also a key player in the construction of the new Beaver Dam American Legion building. He served as Vice Commander of the American Legion Post 146 under Bob Frankenstein for three years leading up to its construction and then served as Commander in 2008 and 2009. Frankenstein says Abel was a “top notch gentleman” who should serve as an inspiration for today’s youth. Abel continued to attend committee and common council meetings until the very end, in spite of his failing health. After the moment of silence last night, Operations Committee Chair Laine Meyer said “Howard was a good guy and he certainly will be missed.” Funeral services are under the direction of the Cornerstone Funeral Home.

Recall Elections Not In Most Municipal Budgets

3/15/11 - At least some of Wisconsin’s local officials are wondering where they’ll get the money to hold recall elections in up to 16 state Senate districts. City clerks in Waupaca and Seymour say they’ll have to spend up to a quarter of their election budgets if enough people sign petitions for the recall votes. Waupaca is looking at a five-thousand-dollar expense if Senate Republican Luther Olsen of Ripon is challenged for his vote on the budget repair bill. And a Fox Valley paper said communities could spend up to 42-thousand-dollars on a recall vote against Senate Democrat Dave Hansen of Green Bay. In Dodge County, only residents in the city of Waupun and the town of Theresa could be affected by a recall but Clerk Karen Gibson says her office would be responsible to run a special election that would cost $5,000 if both municipalities held it the same day and much more if they were different days. A leader of one recall says the senators are to blame by quote, “not showing up for work.” 14 Senate Democrats boycotted the Capitol for three weeks to block a vote on Governor Scott Walker’s budget repair bill. State Democratic Party spokesman Graeme Zielinski said communities should be more worried about the massive amount of state aid they stand to lose in Walker’s next budget. He said the costs of the recall elections pale by comparison.

La Follette Holding Off On Bill Publication

3/15/11 - The new Wisconsin law that virtually eliminates collective bargaining by most public employee unions will not go into effect for 11 more days. Republican Governor Scott Walker asked that the law be published Monday, so it can take effect today (Tue). But La Follette, a Democrat, says he’ll wait to publish it until March 25th – the latest date possible. He says wants to give local governments and schools as much time as possible to ram through contracts that will let workers keep their bargaining powers for as the new contracts last. In many cases, the governing bodies accept the deals because they reduce the amount taxpayers cover in the union workers’ health insurance and pension payments. Officials say they also want to continue the labor peace the agreements afford for as long as possible. La Follette said he heard from many local governments and schools to request a delay in publishing the new law. And he said he doesn’t see any emergency that warrants publishing the law immediately. A court hearing is set for Wednesday on a lawsuit by Dane County officials that challenges the new measure.

Steven King Criticizes Walker

3/15/11 - Wisconsin’s Scott Walker has drawn the attention of famed author Stephen King. The horror writer calls Walker one of the “Three Stooges,” along with Florida’s Rick Scott and Paul LePage of King’s home state of Maine. King is an outspoken Democrat, and he says LeSage, Scott, and Walker are the equivalent of “Curly, Moe, and Larry.” All three governors are Republicans, and they’ve all been attacked by unions for various reasons. King calls himself a “rich person” and wonders why isn’t taxed more than he is. He says it’s quote, “total bull” that taxing the rich discourages jobs, as the G-O-P governors claim. King made his remarks at a recent rally in Florida for unions, education, and veterans. Part of the speech is on You-Tube.

Anti-Walker Graffiti Reported In Milwaukee Suburbs

3/15/11 - Police in the Milwaukee suburb of Greendale are investigating the spray-painting of anti-Scott Walker graffiti at a branch of M-and-I Bank. Interim Police Chief Bob Malasuk said somebody painted the words “Traitor,” “Unions are Forever,” and anti-Walker profanity on Saturday night. The damage has since been cleaned up. Several large government employees have urged people to boycott M-and-I Banks around Wisconsin unless the company urges the governor to repeal the public union negotiating restrictions in the budget bill he signed last Friday. In Madison, an M-and-I Bank closed early last Thursday, and protestors said they closed their accounts and withdrew 192-thousand dollars. The bank says it won’t take a position on the union bill – it does contribute to candidates as a business – and bank employees can donate to any candidate they choose.

Feds Seeks To Protest Coastal Land

3/15/11 - Over 55-hundred acres of nature land will be protected in southern Wisconsin, thanks in part to a two-million-dollar federal grant. The U-S Fish-and-Wildlife Service announced the grant Monday. It said other groups put up a total of seven-point-six million dollars. Almost 19-hundred acres will be protected in 13 southeast Wisconsin counties as part of the region’s Coastal Habitat Initiative. That includes Fond du Lac and Washington County. That project includes breeding and migration efforts for shorebirds, migratory song-birds, colonial water-birds, and waterfowl.

Operations Committee Approves Raze Order, Assessments

3/15/11 - The Beaver Dam Operations Committee last night approved plans to demolish a dilapidated house. A Dodge County judge this month issued a raze order for 400 North Center Street, a residence ravaged by fire in November of 2009 and left in a state of disrepair. The owners are involved in a lawsuit against their insurance company over the claim and are also facing foreclosure. In addition, they chose not to respond to a lawsuit filed against them by the city. That allowed officials to secure a default judgment and have the structure ordered down. The city will now proceed with advertising for bids for the removal. It will cost an estimated $24,600 to take down; those costs will be assessed against the property. The owners waived their right to a public hearing, which will streamline the process some. The Operations Committee hopes to award the contract for demolition by this time next month and Mayor Kennedy says the structure should be down by the time school is out.

Brandon Teen Charged With Sexual Assault

3/15/11 - A Brandon teen is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old. Harland Helms could spend up to 40 years in prison if convicted on the felony charge. Authorities say the 17-year-old admitted to the relationship but said he was not aware of the child’s age. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled at the end of April.

Fondy Man Charged With Smuggling Into FLCI

3/15/11 - A Fond du Lac man is accused of trying to smuggle tobacco into the Fox Lake Correctional Institution. Ray Pfantz is charged with a felony count of Delivering Illegal Articles to an Inmate. Corrections officials say they heard the inmate bragging that Pfantz would often smuggle contraband inside for him, so they monitored his visits by video camera. During a visit earlier this month, Pfantz allegedly slipped two cigar tubes with chewing tobacco into a potato chip bag and handed it to the inmate. That inmate was said to be videotaped reaching his hand into the bag and instead of putting chips in his mouth, he reportedly placed the cigar tubes in his socks. They were discovered during a pat down. A signature bond was set at $1000 on Friday and a preliminary hearing will be held later this month. If convicted, Pfantz could spend up to three-and-a-half years behind bars.

Huber Inmate Charged With Escape

3/15/11 - A Hammond man is accused of violating the terms of his work release. Cory Ulm is charged with misdemeanor counts of Escape and Obstruction; each charge carries a maximum nine month jail sentence upon conviction. The 26-year-old was given Huber privileges as part of a six month sentence for contempt of court in a traffic case but authorities say he failed to return to jail last month. According to the criminal complaint, his car spun out on an icy patch in the Town of Oak Grove and wound up in a ditch. Deputies say they found Ulm walking on the side of the road and he initially gave them a fake name. A signature bond was set at $500 yesterday and Ulm will be back in court for a preliminary hearing next month.