Top Stories July 30th

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Forbes

7/30/11 - A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Curtis Forbes by the husband and son of Marilyn McIntyre. The suit was filed in Columbia County where Forbes was convicted last year of killing McIntyre at her home in Columbus in 1980. The lawsuit claims that Forbes and his wife Debbie are responsible for causing pain and suffering, loss of companionship and society, and emotional distress. Court documents say the conduct of the Forbes were “extreme and outrageous” and caused “extreme and disabling” emotional distress to Marilyn’s husband Lane and their son Christopher McIntyre. The lawsuit does not list any damage amounts. Forbes has until late next month to respond to the suit.

Sale of Land to ETS Now Official

7/30/11 - The city of Beaver Dam officially closed on the sale of land in the Lakeside Business Park yesterday (Fr). Engineered Treatment Systems purchased 4.4 acres of land at a cost of $20,000 per acre. ETS is owned by Chuck Neuman, who has an option to purchase an additional 5.3 acres. The business provides ultraviolet technology for improving water quality. The construction value of the 29,000 square foot facility is estimated at around $2 million. ETS currently has 14 employees and the new facility could add another half dozen jobs. Construction is anticipated to begin as early as next month.

Probation Revoked for Randolph Man

7/30/11 - A Randolph man on probation for burglarizing a church will be heading back to jail for a year after having his probation revoked. Perry Regazzi broke into the Randolph Evangelical Free Church in December of 2006 and stole a laptop computer and a checkbook. The 53-year-old Regazzi had been at the church prior to the burglary and was given a check to purchase food from a grocery store. Regazzi was originally sentenced to two weeks in jail back in 2007 and was also placed on 5 years probation. He won’t spend a fell year behind bars this time though as he was given 200 days of presentencing credit.

Dahmer Escapee Charged in Homeless Man’s Death

7/30/11 - Twenty years ago Tracy Edwards escaped from a serial killer, then lead police back to Jeffrey Dahmer. Now, Edwards is one of two men charged with throwing a homeless man off a Milwaukee bridge. Johnny Jordan drowned. Edwards and 44 year old Timothy Carr are charged with recklessly endangering safety in Jordan's death. In July 1991, Edwards managed to get away from Dahmer with a handcuff still attached to his wrist. He then led police back to the notorious killer's apartment.

Recall Ads Drawing Big Money

7/30/11 - Television ads are popping up against Republican state Senator Luther Olsen. Groups like the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America say they spent 100 thousand dollars last week on that TV ad, and they plan to spend another 150 thousand dollars to air an ad against Republican state Senator Alberta Darling. The Olsen ad will be extended. The two groups have called an estimated 115 thousand people and they say they plan to knock on 50 thousand doors -- all as a part of the recall elections scheduled for a week from next Tuesday, August 9. Another campaign run by a coalition of unions maintains it has already contacted a million voters through calls and door-knocking.

Monitoring Efforts to Increase on Lake Michigan

7/30/11 - Federal crews will increase monitoring efforts on waterways near Lake Michigan next week. The stepped up routine comes after genetic material from the invasive carp was found in a third consecutive round of testing. Those crews will use electricity to stun fish, sweep the waterways will long nets, then take additional samples in Lake Calumet and the Calumet River. Four days of testing starts Monday. Some scientists say, if the carp establish a foothold in the Great Lakes, they could destroy the multi-billion dollars fishing industry. If a carp is found during next week's testing, the efforts will be ramped up even more. If several are found, a toxin could be used to kill the carp.

Emerald Ash Borer Found in Racine

7/30/11 - For the first time the invasive and destructive emerald ash borer has been found in Racine County. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture confirms eight beetles were found in traps in the northern part of the county last Tuesday. Tests confirmed the tiny green beetles were emerald ash borers. The insects have killed millions of ash trees in a dozen states and two Canadian provinces. They've been found in eight Wisconsin counties since August 2008.

McNeer Found Not Competent

7/30/11 - He's not competent now, but a Washington County judge says he expects retired chairman and CEO Charles McNeer with eventually being competent to stand trial on charges he tried to kill his wife. McNeer has been diagnosed as an 85 year old man with a treatable mental illness, major depression, with some psychotic episodes. McNeer has been treated at the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison since last month. The judge says his mental health is improving and he will eventually be able to go on trial. Prosecutors say McNeer hit his wife on the head with a hammer. At one time McNeer ran Wisconsin Energy Corporation.

Waupun Inmate Convicted in 1973 Murder

7/30/11 - An Arizona jury has convicted a man from Madison in a murder almost 40 years old. Prosecutors say 57 year old William Floyd Zamastil faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced next October. Right now he is serving a prison sentence at the Waupun Correctional Institution. The prosecutors argued successfully that Zamastil abducted Leesa Jo Shaner from Tucson International Airport in May 1973. He raped a murdered hur, leaving her body in a shallow grave. Zamastil has been convicted fof four other murders.

Top Stories July 29th

Chamber Closes on Depot Location

7/29/11 - The Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce has officially ownership of the building where its offices are located. The city sold the building to the Chamber for $1 but will retain the option to re-purchase if the property ever goes back on the market. The Chamber of Commerce has been leasing the depot from the city for 25 years. Executive Director Phil Fritsche says their Board of Directors wanted to own the building before spending money on needed renovations being planned in conjunction with their 100-year anniversary in 2013.

The Beaver Dam Chamber is located in the former train depot on South Spring Street. Once a stop on the rail line between Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, it was closed in the years following World War II and was acquired by the city about ten years later. For years it served as the Dodge County Historical Society Museum before they moved next door to the former Williams Free Library and the Chamber set up shop in 1986.

Waupun Man Found Guilty in 1973 Murder

7/29/11 - A southeast Wisconsin man was found guilty yesterday of killing the daughter of an F-B-I agent in Arizona 38 years ago. 57-year-old William Zamastil of Waupun faces life-in-prison when he’s sentenced October fifth. Prosecutors said Zamastil may have abducted Leesa Jo Shaner from the airport in Tucson in May of 1973, while she was waiting to pick up her husband. Authorities said Shaner was raped, and her remains were found in a shallow grave in September of ’73 at Arizona’s Fort Huachuca. Investigators identified Zamastil as a suspect after he was sent to prison for the rape-and-murder of a Wisconsin woman in 1979. A federal grand jury indicted him in 2009 for Shaner’s murder.


Court Enters Not Guilty Plea for Clark

7/29/11 - A Beaver Dam woman charged with felony child abuse stood mute during an arraignment hearing yesterday (Th) and the court entered a “not guilty” plea on her behalf. 40-year-old Michelle Clark is accused of punching and kicking a young child. A teacher notified authorities last December after the kid came to school with a bloody lip and with a scratched and red face. The child told investigators that Clark hits her a lot after she drinks, has punched her in the head, stomach and privates and says she once blacked-out after being struck in the head with a dumbbell. Clark denied the allegations and said the child had been acting up lately. She could spend up to six years in prison if convicted.

Wiard in Court

7/29/11 - A Horicon man accused of burglarizing a Horicon tavern over the Fourth of July weekend entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment yesterday (Th). Police arrested Daniel Wiard on charges of domestic battery during the early morning hours of July 3 and en route to the jail, arresting officers got word that Danny Boy’s Tavern in Horicon had been burglarized. The next day investigators reviewed video footage from that night and the bartender identified the suspect as a guy named “Dan” who was new to town. Wiard moved to town last month. Police executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered $2600 in small bills and a Brewers Jersey that had been on a wall in the establishment. According to the criminal complaint, the 30-year-old waited in the women’s bathroom until everyone left for the night, loaded-up a garbage can full of items from the bar, dragged the garbage can home on his bike, and then dumped the garbage can full of stolen items out in his living room. That sparked a fight with his mother that resulted in his arrest on the domestic abuse charges. When questioned in jail about the break-in, Wiard reportedly said (quote) “I’m guilty of [burglarizing] whatever the bar’s name is and I’m willing to do my time.” The former North Dakota man is being held on a $10,000 cash bond. If convicted on charges of Felony Burglary and Theft and misdemeanor Criminal Damage To Property, the charges alone carry a maximum prison sentence of over 15 years.

4th Heat Wave Related Death Confirmed

7/29/11 - Wisconsin health officials have confirmed another death from last week’s heat wave. An 87-year-old Reedsburg woman was found dead in a mobile home without air conditioning. The Sauk County coroner has ruled that the woman’s death was caused by the searing heat spell. Temperatures last week went above 100 in some parts of Wisconsin – and the heat index got as high as 127. The other three confirmed heat deaths were in Marquette, Columbia, and Crawford counties. All the victims were 65-or-older, and at least two had underlying medical conditions. A possible fifth heat-related death was still being investigated this week in Polk County. In that case, a 25-year-old man left a vehicle and walked home during the intense heat.

Former CEO Not Mentally Capable of Helping With Defense

7/29/11 - 7/29/11 - A retired C-E-O of Wisconsin’s largest electric utility is not mentally capable of helping with his own defense in an attempted murder case. That’s what a Washington County judge ruled Thursday in the case of 85-year-old Charles McNeer. The Hartford man underwent a mental competency exam soon after he was charged with Attempted Homicide for allegedly trying to kill his wife Ann in late June. Circuit Judge Todd Martens said McNeer showed improvement during his treatment at the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison. The judge said McNeer is likely to become mentally competent to stand trial at some point – and another court hearing is set for September sixth to see how McNeer’s doing. Mendota specialists diagnosed McNeer with major but treatable depression. Authorities said he struck his wife several times in the head with a hammer, because his own health was failing and he did not think his wife could live without him. McNeer was Wisconsin Energy’s chairman from 1975 through ’91.

Hard Landing for Jet at the EAA

7/29/11 - One of the two F-16 jets performing at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh suffered a hard landing late yesterday morning. A witness to the incident tells us it looked like the jet was coming in too fast and its brakes failed. The jet simply ran out of runway. The pilot was able to safely escape and jogged away from the scene. Since it was an Air Force jet an investigation into the incident will be handled by the Department of Defense. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)

State Employee Released from Jail After Balloon Popping Incident

7/29/11 - An assistant director in the Division of State Facilities was released after he was arrested for allegedly shoving a protestor against a door and popping her balloon. 56-year-old Ronald Blair was booked on a possible charge of endangering safety with a dangerous weapon. Dane County’s chief prosecutor said he would review the case before making a decision on charges. Blair is not commenting on Monday’s incident, which happened during the daily sing-along at the State Capitol by protestors upset about the law that limits union bargaining. Leslie Peterson said she was getting ready to pose for a picture during the demonstration when Blair popped her balloon several times with a knife. And when she asked for his name to consider a complaint, Peterson said he shoved her against a door. Blood was found at the scene, but Blair told officers he stabbed his hand on a stairway before the incident. The balloons have become a symbol of the Capitol’s pro-union protests. Peterson told the Wisconsin State Journal yesterday that she feels bad it came down to this – and she said the protest was meant to be peaceful.

Redistricting Lawsuit Thrown Out, More Expected

7/29/11 - One lawsuit challenging redistricting in Wisconsin has been dismissed, but another is still pending. A three-judge panel issued a ruling yesterday (Th) saying there was no need to step in to the middle of the dispute over redistricting right now. Former state Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson had filed a request last month to reopen a federal case from 10 years ago that ended with the courts redrawing Wisconsin’s district boundaries after the 2000 U.S. Census. Republicans had the votes to approve redistricting earlier this month, redrawing boundaries for the area represented by all 132 state legislators and eight members of the congressional delegation. Democrats have called the new boundary lines unfair, calling them a naked power grab. The governor hasn’t signed the new maps into law yet.

Oshkosh Corp. Focusing on Non-Military Business

7/29/11 - The Oshkosh Corporation says it’s working to grow its non-military business, after its profits took a 68-percent plunge from a year ago. The company reports a net income of 68-million-dollars from April-through-June, down from 211-million at the same time a year ago. That was when Oshkosh was scrambling to keep up with the military’s demand for mine-resistant vehicles in Iraq-and-Afghanistan. But now, the U-S is scaling back its presence in both those countries. And Oshkosh C-E-O Charles Szews said is quote, “executing on a facility optimization strategy to become more efficient across our entire company.” He says Oshkosh might seek new acquisitions starting next year, as its defense business tapers off. Its defense revenues fell 35-percent in the last quarter compared to a year ago. Revenues for fire and emergency vehicles dropped by two-point-seven percent, as municipal budgets remain tight. And access equipment revenues were down 18-percent. Szews said its next fiscal year, which starts in October, would be difficult in light of the hurdles caused by the economy and the federal budget. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn declared a nine-and-a-half percent share of the Oshkosh Corporation last month, and he wants to talk with the firm about improving its value to stockholders. The company’s stock has dropped by over 18-percent so far this year.

Numbers of Same-Sex Couples on the Rise in Wisconsin

7/29/11 - The number of same-sex couples is way up in Wisconsin. Statistics from the 2010 U.S. Census show more than 13 thousand same-sex couples are currently living in the state. Milwaukee County has about three thousand, while almost 700 were counted in Waukesha County. The figures represent a growth of almost 58 percent. In the last census in 2000, Wisconsin recorded about 82 hundred same-sex couples.

Council to Consider Action Against Sheboygan Mayor

7/29/11 - The Sheboygan City Council will consider a resolution on Monday night calling on Mayor Bob Ryan to step down after his latest alcohol relapse. But the first-term mayor says he won’t quit on his own. He told a Sheboygan radio station yesterday that he’s sorry for what happened but feels he can (quote) “lead the city better than anybody can.” For the first time, Ryan said he would not refute what witnesses said about his three-day drinking binge in Elkhart Lake last weekend. He admitted passing out in a bar and getting into a scuffle with a tavern patron – but he insisted he did not start that incident. It was the third time since he was elected mayor in 2009 that Ryan had a public episode with alcohol. And Ryan said quote, “I’m to the point if it happens again, I need to walk away.” The mayor said what he did was indefensible – and while alcoholism is part of his history he says it does affect his ability to lead the city. If he does not step down, the Sheboygan City Council president said he might face punishment ranging from censure to removal…if someone files a complaint.

Top Stores July 27th

Lowell Post Office Among Possible Closures

7/27/11 - Twelve post offices in southern Wisconsin were on the initial list of possible closures disseminated by the U.S. Postal Service yesterday, including the office in Lowell. The USPS is looking to close 3,600 local offices nationwide in the largest downsizing in the history of the money-losing agency. According to officials, the postal service lost $8-billion last year alone. The first closings won’t start until January.

Kozlowski Seeks Release From Winnebago

7/27/11 - A Milwaukee man, who was involved in a murder in Horicon 29 years ago, will be asking a Dodge County judge for conditional release during a court trial scheduled for next month. Gregory Kozlowski is currently incarcerated at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. The 60-year-old has been committed since 1973 after being found “Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity” for the June 1972 killing of 21-year-old Kenneth Glasse of Milwaukee. Because the murder took place in Horicon, the Dodge County District Attorneys office has followed the case for decades. Managing Attorney Bob Barrington says Kozlowski is covered under a law that allows him to return to Dodge County on an annual basis to plead his case for release to either a judge or jury. His request for conditional release was granted a couple years ago. Kozlowski was placed in a group home in January 2008, but it did not work out and he returned to Winnebago four months later. Barrington says Kozlowski is now seeking conditional release with hopes of returning to his home in Milwaukee – which he has managed to keep all these years – and start a business. Kozlowski has a half-day court trial scheduled before Judge Andrew Bissonnette on August 16.

On a side note, shortly after his 1972 homicide arrest in Dodge County, Kozlowski reportedly confessed to the murder of a Red Cross volunteer while he was stationed in Vietnam. Warstories.com says Kozlowski told then-Sheriff Edwin Nehls that he stabbed the 21-year girl in her sleeping quarters in August of 1970. Indeed, Kozlowski had been a suspect in the murder but no one had been convicted. After the sheriff informed the military of the confession, officials closed the case. Two months later, Edwin Nehls told the victim’s family about the confession.

http://www.war-stories.com/aspprotect/death-of-a-donut-dollie-murder-of-ginny-kirsch-1970.asp

John Deere to Celebrate 100-Years in Horicon

7/27/11 - Horicon Mayor Jim Grigg says without the John Deere plant his city would be a shell of its current self. And it’s for that reason, and many others, that he’s so excited to celebrate the company’s 100-years of production in the community next month. The city and John Deere have been planning a celebration that will include a parade and other acknowledgments of the company’s impact. Grigg says the tax base provided by the plant is important but he also believes the company’s employees have played, and continue to play, integral roles in the city, including on the school board and city council. The celebration is planned for Saturday August 27th and Grigg says John Deere will be reimbursing the city for any expenses. A completed schedule of events is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

McNicol Jailed In Ice Fishing Shanty Thefts

7/27/11 - A Waterloo man who broke into several ice fishing shanties on Beaver Dam Lake will spend five days in jail. Cody McNicol burglarized the make-shift structures in early January and stole hundreds of dollars worth of fishing gear and related equipment. Authorities obtained video footage of McNicol with the stolen stuff. The 24-year-old pleaded “no contest” yesterday to three amended charges of misdemeanor Theft and had two other misdemeanors and a pair of felony charges dismissed but read into the record. He was also ordered to perform community service. A restitution hearing will be held at a later date.

Search Comes Up Empty

7/27/11 - Despite a three-hour search effort that covered over a thousand acres of woods and marsh, Fond du Lac County authorities were unable to find a plane a farmer thought he saw go down in the Mt. Calvary area yesterday afternoon. Fire department off road vehicles and a Flight for Life helicopter were used to search the rough terrain. Nothing was found and the FAA reported no overdue aircraft. Sheriff Mick Fink says they had a similar incident in the Town of Osceola a few years ago when someone also thought they saw a plane go down and that search also turned up nothing. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)

Investigation Continues Into EAA Plane Crash

7/27/11 - Two people killed when a small plane crashed into Lake Winnebago were identified as 47-year-old Steven Staples of Illinois and 36-year-old Michelle Palermo of Kimberly. Staples was the pilot. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said they were in a 1940 yellow Piper Cub craft that had just left the E-A-A Air-Venture show in Oshkosh, when it crashed a quarter-to-a-half-mile off Lake Winnebago’s western shore about 10 miles from both Oshkosh and Fond du Lac. It happened just before noon yesterday. Boaters said they saw Palermo’s face in a window of the submerged aircraft – but there was nothing they could do to help her before rescuers arrived. Fond du Lac County sheriff’s deputies are investigating, along with the F-A-A and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Poberezny Stepping Down As EAA Chairman

7/27/11 - For the first time in nearly 60 years, the chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association and AirVenture Oshkosh won’t be named Poberezny (poh bur EZ nee). Current EAA president and CEO Rod Hightower is taking over August 1. Tom Poberezny announced yesterday (Tue) that he is retiring. He has headed the EAA since 1989, taking over then from his father, Paul Poberezny. The elder Poberezny had headed the organization since it was founded in 1953. This year’s EAA AirVenture runs through Sunday in Oshkosh. Then, Tom Poberezny will become chairman emeritus the next day.

Columbus Ag Community Seeks To Fund Husbandry Class

7/27/11 - The Columbus area Ag Community would like to see the bi-annual scheduling of the High School class in Large Animal Care continued. The FFA has approached the School Board with a proposal to fund the class for the 2011-2012 School year with donations from local agribusiness leaders. While fundraising for school events is not unusual, private funding of specific school courses is another matter. School officials and a dozen members of the Ag community continue to meet. The School Board will be getting an update on the discussions at their August meeting.

Titletown Businesses Grateful For Football Season

7/27/11 - What would 25-million dollars mean to the place where you live? That’s how much Green Bay could have lost next month alone, had the pro football owners’ lockout dragged on. Yes, the fans would have survived – and the players are so rich-and-famous, they could have easily found another way to make a living. But the same cannot be said for the hotels, restaurants, bars, and other tourist places that count on the Packers for their survival. The Greater Green Bay Visitors-and-Convention Bureau estimates that the August training camp, the Family Night scrimmage, and the two exhibition games bring in 20-to-25 million dollars for the area’s economy. About 40-to-60-thousand attend the Family Night scrimmage, which is set for August sixth. Around 34-thousand fans attend other training camp activities – and four-of-every-five of those people are from outside Brown County. The city-and-county stadium district estimates that the Packers bring in 281-million-dollars for the economy each year. Jerry Watson says a third of his annual revenues at the Stadium View Bar-and-Grille are connected to the Packers. Fans will start showing up en-masse on Thursday for the team’s annual stockholders’ meeting. The first public practice at training camp is on Saturday night.

Property Tax Deadline Looms

7/27/11 - Dodge County Treasurer Patti Hilker is reminding taxpayers who postponed the second installment of their property taxes that the bill is due July 31. However, because the deadline falls on a Sunday this year, Hilker says her office will accept payments on Monday, August 1 without penalty. Letters should also be postmarked no later than August 1. She also says to make sure you check the balance of your first installment receipt to ensure proper payment because your second payment is not the same as your first payment…as the first payment may have been reduced by lottery credit. Payments can be made online with a credit card or electronic check at www.witreasurers.org, by telephone at 800-272-9829 or at the treasurers office, 127 East Oak Street in Juneau. Taxpayers mailing after the deadline are subject to interest and a penalty of ten point five percent (10.5%)… and for the second installment that is retroactive to February 1.

Top Stories, July 25th

Yet Another Car Crashes Into The Beaver Dam River

7/25/11 - Another car has crashed into the Beaver Dam River. City Police Sgt. Matt Riel tells us it happened at 3:14am Saturday morning in the exact same location that has seen three accidents in the past year alone, including one that happened one year ago today (Mon). Riel says an 18-year-old Beaver Dam woman crashed through the railings of the Madison Street Bridge at the intersection of Ryan Cantafio Way. The car was later spotted by an off-duty police officer, who saw the suspected driver enter a nearby vehicle. After calling it in, the off-duty officer followed the vehicle and led police to their location. After questioning, the woman allegedly admitted to driving into the river. A preliminary breath test was reportedly point .135. There was one witness who told police that the woman was speeding before the accident. There were no other passengers and the teen did not require EMS transport.

On July 25, 2010, a 58-year-old Beaver Dam woman was rescued from the same location after she failed to negotiate the same curve, crashed through the railings and landed upside down in the river. The police officers, firefighters and bystanders who helped rescue her were all given commendations. This time, authorities say the river was much lower – not even knee deep.

On February 6 of this year, a 34-year-old Mayville man was arrested for OWI after a similar crash. A witness and two police officers helped the driver out of the river after a 28-year-old female passenger had swum to safety. The driver, Epifanio Ochoa-Hernandez, was charged with OWI – Causing Injury. A bench warrant was issued after he failed to appear on those charges back in May.

Meister Building Auxiliary Police Force

7/25/11 - Columbus Police Chief Dan Meister has received the go ahead to hire volunteer Auxiliary police members specially trained for use during special civic and emergency events. Meister said job descriptions and training schedules are being completed for the applicants. Meister is also working with Fire Chief Randy Koehn in recruiting a new “Chaplain” for both Departments. The Chiefs met with members of the Columbus Ecumenical Council to initiate recruitment of a new Chaplain. Columbus has been without a Police and Fire Chaplain for over a year.

City Acquires Building Donated For Senior Center

7/25/11 - The city of Beaver Dam closed on the former Fullerton Lumber building on South Center Street Friday morning. Mayor Tom Kennedy says the donation from Charles and Gail Fakes is a welcome gift to the city that will help continue efforts toward downtown revitalization. The property is intended for use as a future Community and Senior Center. MSA Professional Services was hired to develop phase one of the projects. Senior Center officials are raising funds for the estimated $2.5 million dollar renovation.

Columbus Mulls Plans For West Side Rec Park

7/25/11 - Columbus is considering a “concept” plan for a west side Recreation Park. The plan was developed after recent City successes hosting the Xplosion Softball tournaments. The Concept Plan included development of a 12 acre area with four baseball fields, three soccer fields, a Frisbee golf course, skate park, conservation areas and car and bus parking. The Park would be located south of Maple Avenue, along Highway 151. Columbus area residents and businesses will be asked for their ideas about the “concept” during the coming months.

AirVenture Kicks Off Today

7/25/11 - The first-ever EAA fly-in convention was held 58 years ago in Milwaukee. The AirVenture kicks off Monday in Oshkosh, where it has been held since 1969. It's called the "World's Greatest Aviation Celebration." While big aircraft are an integral part of the show, most of the planes headed to Wittman Regional Airport are much smaller. AirVenture includes forums, workshops, vendors with products to sell and the biggest collections of planes of all sizes in the world. The EAA AirVenture runs through Sunday, July 31.

Heat Wave Increases Electric Usage

7/25/11 – For some Wisconsin residents the air conditioner ran all the time last week. Demand for power has been high -- record-setting in some cases. Madison Gas and Electric broke its all-time usage record last Tuesday with 752 megawatts of demand. That mark didn't stand long. The very next day, the power company reported electric usage by its customers reached 777 megawatts. Xcel Energy reports it had some heat-related outages, but said they were very minor compared to what other states were experiencing. Elsewhere in Wisconsin, We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service both were within three percent of setting records last week when the temperatures were their hottest.

Wisconsin Cows Weather Heat Wave

7/25/11 - Moderating temperatures are good news for Wisconsin dairy farmers. Dairy cows prefer cooler temperatures. When temperatures top the 90s, as they did this past week, dairy cows don't produce as much milk. The intense heat can also make cows susceptible to bacterial infections. No deaths of dairy cows have been tied to the heat wave, though some livestock farmers have reported losses to the USDA.

Elk Reach Record Level

7/25/11 - With the Wisconsin elk herd reaching a record level of 175, the DNR says it is going to expand the herd beyond Clam Lake. Biologists report 34 elk calves were born this spring despite the rough winter. Nine of the 34 died and radio collars have been put on 22 others. This year's herd size represents an increase of 15 percent and is its largest since 25 elk were transplanted into Wisconsin in 1995. A dozen of the elk have now been moved from the 90 square mile area around Ashland, Bayfield and Sawyer counties to a location near Clam Lake. The elk range now covers a little over 11 hundred square miles.

Experts: ‘Fish Kill Normal’

7/25/1 – They smell bad and they litter Lake Michigan beaches, but fishery officials say the deaths of thousands of alewives means the big lake is healthy. Their presence indicates a good food supply for lake trout and salmon. Experts say fluctuating water temperatures probably killed the small silvery fish. At Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County maintenance workers rake the beach every day. Ten years ago so many alewives died they clogged the cooling systems at power stations.

Top Stories, July 24th

Authorities Investigating Allenton Dealership Burglary

7/24/11 - Washington County authorities are investigating a burglary at a car dealership in Allenton that resulted in five stolen cars. It happened at M & J Auto and RV and occurred sometime between 11pm Thursday and 8am Friday morning. In addition to the five missing vehicles, a motor scooter was also stolen. The offices were ransacked and computer equipment and other electronics were taken along with keys and titles for every car on the lot. Owners are estimating the cost for just changing locks, getting new keys made and replacing the vehicle titles at around $20,000. The business is estimating the crime itself is going to cost them around $100,000. They are offering a $2,500 reward for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction. The vehicles stolen include a 2007 Toyota Camry, a 2007 Ford Edge, a 2006 Jeep Liberty, a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer, a 2005 Chevy Malibu and a 2006 United Motors Scooter. Information in the crime should be directed to the Washington County Sheriffs Department.

Search Continues For Missing Ixonia Man

7/24/11 - The Jefferson County Sheriffs Department continues their search for a missing Ixonia man. 28-year-old Beau Butschke has been missing since last Thursday, July 14. He has light brown hair and green eyes, weighs about 130 pounds and is around 5 feet 9 inches tall. Butschke’s red 1991 Toyota pick-up is also missing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office Detectives Division. (920-674-7310)

Sensient Earnings Outlook Rosy

7/24/11 - Sensient Technologies has raised its earnings outlook for the year after reporting second-quarter net income increased 16.7%, thanks to strong sales and favorable currency exchange. The Milwaukee-based producer of flavors, fragrances and colors said net income was $33.5 million, or 67 cents a share, up from $28.7 million, or 58 cents, a year earlier. Sales rose 12.9%, to $377 million. Analysts were expecting earnings of 63 cents a share for the quarter and $2.36 for the year. Sensient – which is one of the city of Juneau’s biggest employers – now expects to earn $2.32 to $2.37 a share for the year. Previous guidance called for earnings of $2.28 to $2.34 a share. Company officials say favorable currency exchange rates were responsible for a 6% increase in sales and operating profits for the quarter.

Manpower Quarterly Profits Double

7/24/11 - The Milwaukee job-placement firm of Manpower Incorporated said its quarterly profits more than doubled from a year ago. That’s because of a global demand for putting workers in new jobs – even if they’re not full-time. Manpower is reported a net income of almost 73-million dollars from April through June. That’s up from 33 million in the same quarter of 2010. Manpower’s total revenues jumped 24-percent to almost five-point-seven billion dollars. And in terms of constant foreign currency, revenues grew 12-percent from the previous year. Manpower C-E-O Jeff Joerres says all of its markets throughout the world are showing higher demands for temporary workers. Companies that are uncertain about adding full-time employees have been looking to Manpower to provide temporary personnel.

Wisconsin Search Engine Purchased By Aussie Company

7/24/11 - An Australian food advertising network has bought a Wisconsin company which operates a search engine for recipes. RecipeBridge has been told for an undisclosed amount of money to Gourmet Ads. The site reports more than 100 thousand unique visitors every month and has more than 1-point-7 million available dishes compiled from hundreds of recipe sites on the Internet.

IRS Warning Of Tax Return Scam

7/24/11 - The Internal Revenue Service says Wisconsinites are affected by a scam that involves the filing of tax returns. Christopher Miller of the I-R-S says the agency is discovering false withholdings of Social Security benefits listed on returns as a tax deduction. He says refunds are not allowed in those cases, because such withholdings do not take place. Miller says he’s especially concerned about tax preparers who offer to file false returns for a fee. He says those offers should be a red flag. The I-R-S says you should know about every number on your tax return, even if somebody else prepares it. Miller says the scam is getting more common throughout the Midwest and South – and those caught can be fined five-thousand-dollars. He says information on avoiding such scams is available online at I-R-S-Dot-Gov, or by calling the Wisconsin I-R-S office in Milwaukee.

Attorney Sentenced For Robbing Bank

7/24/11 - A disbarred attorney from Waukesha County has been sentenced to five years in a state prison for robbing a bank. That’s after 62-year-old Peter Elliott of the town of Summit was sentenced to 10 years in a federal lock-up last fall for bilking a client’s trust account. In the state case, Elliott must also serve five years under extended supervision once he’s no longer behind bars. He struck a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to a bank robbery charge in exchange for a lighter sentence. He got away with 95-hundred-dollars in a hold-up at the Town Bank in summit in mid-June of last year. He said he used 26-hundred-dollars to help pay for his daughter’s vehicle – and the rest was used for living expenses and utility bills that were past due. When his federal sentence is done, Elliott will move to a state facility to serve the sentence.

More Evidence Of Carp Breach

7/24/11 - More D-N-A evidence has been discovered showing that the invasive Asian carp has broken through an electronic barrier designed to keep the fish out of Lake Michigan. The Army Corps of Engineers said two samples taken July 12th showed evidence of the bloated carp in Lake Calumet, about six miles south of Lake Michigan. That’s after nine other positive D-N-A samples were taken last month from Lake Calumet and other canals around Chicago. Corps officials insist that the barrier’s working fine, and there’s been no physical evidence of Asian carp close to Lake Michigan other than one found last fall at Lake Calumet. Wisconsin officials have asked that the link between Lake Michigan and the carp-infested Mississippi River be closed, to prevent the carp from taking control of the lake and its natural fish and plants.

FSA Nomination Deadline Looming

7/24/11 - Nominations are being accepted though August 1 for the Dodge County Farm Service Agency County Committee election. The FSA administers federal agricultural production, farm loan, conservation and emergency programs annually in Wisconsin through a network of 58 local offices. Locally elected committee’s of farmer’s and/ or landowners that serve staggered, three-year terms oversee each office. This fall, the townships of Beaver Dam, Burnett, Calamus, Chester, Fox Lake, Oak Grove, Trenton and Westford will be holding their election for a FSA County committee member representative. Dodge County FSA Director Susan Blachowiak says farmers can nominate themselves or another producer to run for a seat on the county committee. Blachowiak says the locally elected committees help make national farm programs fit the needs of local farmers by bringing local expertise and knowledge to the USDA’s daily programs and services. Eligible voters may circulate or sign nomination petitions for as many candidates as they choose, including themselves. The deadline for submitting nominations to the local FSA office is one week from tomorrow (Mon). Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters in November and must be in by December so newly-elected committee members and alternates can be seated in January.

Top Stories, July 23rd

Columbia County Heat Fatality Identified

7/23/11 - Columbia County authorities have released the name of the 65-year-old man who died Monday as a result of the recent heat wave. Dennis Langetieg of Fall River was the first state’s confirmed heat-related death. The Columbia County Medical Examiner says Langetieg was assisting a family member with outdoor chores when he collapsed. Autopsy findings indicate Langetieg died from underlying medical conditions and associated extreme temperatures. Meanwhile, the heat wave has claimed a second life. Extreme heat was a factor in the death of an 82-year-old Prairie du Chien woman who died Thursday. Authorities are still investigating the specific circumstances surrounding the death. More than two dozen people have died in the United States during the current heat wave in the Midwest and east coast.

Beaver Dam Closes On Future Senior Center Building

7/23/11 - The city of Beaver Dam has closed on the property intended for use as a future Community and Senior Center. Mayor Tom Kennedy says the donation of the former Fullerton Lumber building at 209 South Center Street from Charles and Gail Fakes is a welcome gift to the city that will help continue efforts toward downtown revitalization. After the closing yesterday (Fr), the city signed a contract with architect Marty Sell with MSA Professional Services to proceed with the plans in developing phase one of the projects. Immediate occupancy is not expected as no city tax dollars are planned for the new facility. Senior center officials are actively fundraising for the anticipated $2.5 million cost to renovate the new building. 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.

WEAC Opts Out of Walker Task Force

7/23/11 - Wisconsin’s largest teachers’ union said Friday it would not take part in Governor Scott Walker’s task force to come up with a new system to evaluate the quality of public schools. Mary Bell, the head of WEAC, said her group supports the idea of dumping the current accountability system as required under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. But Bell said the union would not be able to cooperate with other members of the task force because it does trust not trust three of the group’s four chairmen. They are the Republican governor and the heads of the Assembly and Senate committees – Republicans Steve Kestell of Elkhart Lake and Luther Olsen of Ripon. Instead, the union promised to start its own effort this fall to get ideas from around the state on improving school accountability. And Bell said WEAC would share information with the fourth chair of the task force, State School Superintendent Tony Evers. Evers says the state might seek a waiver from the federal education law to try out its own homegrown school evaluation system. Bell said she was not certain if the union’s lack of involvement would hurt the state’s chances of getting such a waiver.

Lunch, Sports Fees Increasing In Waupun

7/23/11 - The cost of lunch and playing sports is going up in the Waupun School District. The school board approved a 5-cent increase for breakfast and lunch while also raising the school fee for playing a sport at the middle and high school by $5 to $35 per student per sport or activity. Officials say the total maximum per year for families will go from $100 to $120. The board also approved a change in health insurance for the district beginning September 1st. The change comes after the teachers agreed to it as part of the collective bargaining agreement reached earlier this year that will have them moving from the WEA Trust plan to Dean Health Care.

UW Steam Turbine Generator Scrapped

7/23/11 - The Wisconsin Department of Administration has decided building a steam turbine generator at the power plant powering the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison isn't cost-effective. Given the fact the state of Wisconsin may be selling or leasing power plants in the future, ending plans for expansion at the Madison plant will save the state eight to 10 million dollars. State officials say Wisconsin has a surplus of power generating capacity right now. That plant provides heating and cooling to the Madison campus. This is the second time Governor Scott Walker's administration has taken steps to reduce the quarter-million dollar project's cost.

Priebus Blames Obama For Economy

7/23/11 - The chairman of the Republican National Committee says President Obama will take the blame if Congress fails to reach an agreement on raising the federal debt limit. Reince Priebus says the American people know the economy is bad because of Obama's failed policies. Politicians in both parties say they believe the country will face economic catastrophe if the 14 trillion dollar debt limit isn't increased by August 2. Priebus was in Arkansas last night at a Republican fundraiser. His is the former chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party.

Milwaukee County Mulls Insurance Increase

7/23/11 - Milwaukee County officials have been told the multi-million dollar deficits the county faces could be eliminated by making its workers pay more for their benefits. County employees could find themselves paying a bigger portion of the cost for their health insurance coverage. The county has the ability to raise property taxes as it deals with funding shortfalls. The city is considering a similar question. Requiring city employees to pay 12 percent of their premiums is expected to come up before the full common council at its next meeting Tuesday. That could mean an additional two thousand dollars out of the pocket of an employee who was covering a family of four.

Milwaukee Bus Drivers Under Attack

7/23/11 - Who's attacking Milwaukee's bus drivers? The County Transit System has filed police reports on five incidents when buses or their drivers have been hit with water balloons. One driver says a group of kids threw rocks and balloons filled with an unknown chemical when she opened the door of the bus she had been driving. Whatever was in the balloon stained her uniform and burned her eyes, reportedly. She is said to be still recovering from her injuries.

Roadwork To Greet AirVenture Motorists

7/23/11 - Just as thousands of flying enthusiasts head for the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, road construction promises to complicate the drive for visitors unfamiliar with the area. The annual event draws huge crowds to Winnebago County. Drivers are being asked to be extra-cautious Monday when they are using U.S. Highway 41. Road work means slowdowns, construction cones and complications on the heavily-traveled highway at a time when more congestion isn't needed.

Clarke Investigating Missing Retirement Files

7/23/11 - Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Junior orders an investigation into missing files. The sheriff's office was notified the files were missing from the country retirement system office yesterday. County auditor Jerome Heer says if paper files are missing, any information those files contained would still be on the computer system. He told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel county auditors were in the middle of a review of pension calculations in the office and they were not aware any files were missing. Heer called it disturbing that he had not been notified. Much sensitive information could be contained in files from the office, including bank account nubmers and Social Security numbers.

Top Stories July 22nd

Fountain Prairie Man First Heat-Related Death

7/22/11 - The record-setting heat has claimed a life. A 65-year-old man from Fountain Prairie died Monday. Columbia County Medical Examiner Angela Hinze says the man, whose named was not released, had an underlying medical condition and was outdoors helping a family member with housework when the heat worsened his condition. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) says it was the first confirmed heat-related death in the state. Meanwhile, Madison police are investigating the death of a 36-year-old man on Wednesday to determine if it was related to the hot weather. The current heat wave in the Midwest and east coast has killed 22 people this week. Most of the excessive heat warnings and heat advisories have been cancelled across the state. Only Racine and Kenosha Counties have heat advisories issued until 7pm tonight.

State Aids Private Sector Jobs

7/22/11 - Governor Scott Walker credits his policies, more tourists, and an improved business climate for a big increase in jobs last month. The Republican governor said yesterday that almost 13-thousand private sector jobs were added in June – and the state’s total job increase of 95-hundred reflected half of the national total. Walker said it was driven by quote, “the rebirth of tourism.” Analysts note that tourist jobs are often temporary, with low pay and little-or-no fringe benefits. But the governor says tourism has become a year-round industry. Kurt Bauer, head of the Wisconsin Manufacturers-and-Commerce group, says business leaders both here and nationally like what’s happening in the state. A new tracking group, Badger-Stat-Dot-Org, says the state has a long way to go to return to its total employment before the recession. Wisconsin lost 171-thousand jobs in the Great Recession – and Feldman says about 50-thousand of those jobs have come back, including those announced yesterday.

Suspect Ambushed In Failed Burglary Charged

7/22/11 - A Lake Mills man, accused of trying to break into a pole shed only to be ambushed by the intended victims, has been formally charged. Joseph Bidlack could spend up to 24 years in prison if he’s convicted on felony charges of Burglary and Possession of Burglary Tools. According to the criminal complaint, the would-be victims renting the pole shed in the Town of Portland got word from a friend that Bidlack was planning on breaking into the shed and stealing vehicle parts. Three men were waiting inside the shed when the 36-year-old Bidlack allegedly cut the lock on the shed and entered. Bidlack sustained injuries in the ensuing melee and accuses his attackers of using a baseball bat. The victims deny using the bat and say they acted in self-defense. Bidlack had a cash bond set at $300 and is expected back in court for a preliminary hearing early next month.

BD Woman Jailed After Child Films Sex Act

7/22/11 - A Beaver Dam woman was sentenced to three months in jail Thursday for exposing a minor to sexual activity. A jury convicted Nicole A. Smith in May on the felony charge, along with misdemeanor bail jumping. A high school-age child used a cell phone to film the 36-year-old and another man engaging in sex on Thanksgiving Day. The cell phone was found at school and was taken as evidence. Smith told investigators the incident was a practical joke that got blown of out of proportion. As part of the conditions of bond in a separate case, Smith had been prohibited from having contact with the man who was with her in the video. The same man also allegedly visited her in jail on four separate occasions following a December OWI conviction. As a result, she had four felony bail jumping charges filed against her for allegedly violating that order. She has court activity on the calendar Friday related to the newest bail jumping charges.

Woman Accused of Trying to Stab Ex-Husband

7/22/11 - A 23-year-old Waupun woman is facing charges after allegedly threatening to stab her ex-husband with a knife. Kaycie Behnke made her initial appearance in Fond du Lac County this week on a charge of disorderly conduct/domestic abuse. According to prosecutors, Behnke and her ex-husband were trying to re-establish their relationship when she became enraged after he uttered a Spanish phrase, reminding her of his previous relationship with a Hispanic woman. It happened in the early morning hours of July 17th and she’s due back in court in September.

Mayville Planning Veterans Memorial

7/22/11 - Plans are in the works to build a Veterans Memorial in Mayville. Organizer Maureen Schuelke says the memorial would be located in Fireman’s Park near the pavilion. The granite walls would have more than enough room to contain the names of Mayville’s veterans past, present and future. There would be no charge to get a Mayville veterans name on the wall. Money for the project would come from “pavers,” bricks that can be inscribed with names and sayings that will be laid in front of the walls to form a walkway. The Memorial is anticipated to cost $100,000 and organizers hope to have it in place by Veterans Day. Those interested in purchasing a “paver” are asked to get a hold of Maureen Schuelke at 405 Furnace Street, Mayville 53050.

13K Jobs Added In Badger State Last Month

7/22/11 - Wisconsin added almost 13-thousand private sector jobs in June – the most for any one-month period since September of 2003. Despite a drop in government jobs, Governor Scott Walker says the Badger State still had a net increase of 95-hundred jobs last month – accounting for more than half the new jobs created in the entire nation. And Walker says 39-thousand private sector jobs have been added since the start of the year – which puts him well on his way toward keeping his campaign promise to create a quarter-million private sector jobs by 2015. Wisconsin’s unemployment rate did rise two-tenths of a percent to seven-point-six. Walker’s labor chief, Scott Baumbach, said it was due to more job-seekers entering the workforce with optimism for finding something. Wisconsin’s jobless rate has stayed about one-and-a-half percent below the national rate of nine-percent-plus. Meanwhile, more storm clouds might be brewing on the national labor front. The Labor Department says that applications for jobless benefits rose last week – which was seen as evidence of a weak job market and more layoffs.

Senate Adjourns Without Acting On Jobless Benefits

Wisconsin senators have adjourned until next Tuesday, without acting on the bill to extend jobless benefits for up to 40-thousand residents. Republicans in the Senate and Assembly do not agree on whether to require a one-week waiting period when applying for unemployment checks. The waiting period was placed into the new state budget. Senators took it out on Tuesday, but Assembly Republicans put it back Wednesday. Now, the ball’s back in the Senate’s court. Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald of Horicon says the disagreement will be resolved, but maybe not until September. Senate leaders say they want a deal sooner than that. Democrats, meanwhile, accuse the G-O-P of “toying” with the long-term unemployed who’ve used up 73 weeks of jobless benefits – and would be eligible to get 13 more weeks once lawmakers pass the bill to allow it. The measure would free up 89-million-dollars in federal stimulus funds for jobless benefits. And these funds do not have to be paid back – unlike the one-point-four billion dollars the state borrowed from Washington to keep the benefits flowing during the recession. Senate Democratic Leader Mark Miller said the new benefits are being held up due to quote, “incredible incompetence” or “cold-hearted calculation.”

Job Cuts Announced At M & I

7/22/11 - About 475 jobs will be cut after the parent company of Harris Bank acquired Milwaukee’s M & I banking chain. Jim Kappel of B-M-O Harris said the layoffs would take place during the next four months throughout the company’s Midwest region. Thirteen branches will close – including one in Wisconsin that was planned by M & I before B-M-O Harris finalized its acquisition on July fifth. Some duplicative executive posts had been cut earlier, but the announcement represents the company’s first mass-scale job reductions. About 100 of the job cuts will be in Metro Milwaukee, and Kappel says half those people will be offered jobs at one of B-M-O’s vendors – mostly in human resources and security. Kappel notes that about 400 other positions in the newly-merged Harris chain are vacant – and the laid-off employees can apply for those. M & I, which has a branch in Beaver Dam, had about 43-hundred jobs throughout southeast Wisconsin when the B-M-O Harris acquisition was first announced last December.

Hying Sweating At Swearing-In

7/22/11 - Milwaukee’s new Catholic auxiliary bishop says God wants him to sweat from the very beginning. That was Donald Hying’s take on the massive heat wave, when he was sworn-in Wednesday as the Number-two official in Milwaukee’s 10-county archdiocese, which includes Dodge County. The ceremony took place in the air-conditioned Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist. Over 700 bishops, priests, and others attended the installation. The 47-year-old Hying had been a seminary rector in the the Milwaukee archdiocese since 2007. His predecessor, Richard Sklba, helped celebrate yesterday’s mass along with Archbishop Jerome Listecki and former Milwaukee Archbishop Tim Dolan. Sklba retired last year, and Pope Benedict named Hying to replace him.

Top Stories July 21st

Heat Wave Enters Day 5
7/21/11 - Wisconsin will get at least some relief today, after four days of stifling heat and humidity. The National Weather Service said a cold front moved into western Wisconsin during the night, bringing lower humidities and slightly cooler temperatures. It was in the 60’s at five o’clock as far south as Eau Claire. But much of southern Wisconsin was still in the 80’s. An excessive heat warning remains in effect in our area until 9pm tonight. Yesterday, which was supposed to be the hottest day of the heat wave, didn’t disappoint. It hit 95 in Juneau breaking the record for the day of 94 set back in 1987. At the Watertown airport it got up to 99-degrees but with the heat index it felt more like 109-degrees. It was 95 in Fond du Lac with a heat index of 107-degrees. Madison tied a record with 97-degrees while the mercury hit 100 yesterday in Janesville and Boscobel. State officials have reported no heat-related deaths – even though the heat wave is similar to one in 1995 in which 115 Wisconsinites died.

Road Buckling Snarls Traffic, Causes Accident

7/21/11 - Pavement buckling snarled traffic on Highway 151 during the peak of yesterday’s record-setting heat. In Columbia County, both northbound lanes were diverted onto the Highway 16-60 bypass near Columbus beginning around 4pm. The Wisconsin State Patrol says the scene was cleared at 9:20pm. In Dodge County, both of the southbound lanes near County Highway B experienced road blow-outs and motorists had to use the shoulder until 8:40pm. There was also minor road buckling on Highway 33 and 26 in the Town of Oak Grove. There were no injuries reported in a four-car accident at the intersection around 3pm.

BD Man Sentenced On Heroin Dealing Charges

7/21/11 - A Beaver Dam man was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in prison for selling drugs. Gino Montoya was arrested two years ago after a search of his house turned up heroin, cocaine and marijuana. The 35-year-old Montoya entered a “no contest” plea in May to charges of Drug Possession with Intent to Deliver. During the course of that plea hearing, an uncharged case was referenced. According to court records, that case could result in charges of Reckless Homicide Causing Death, though no formal charges have been filed. Under the Len Bias Law, a person who supplies drugs that result in an overdose death could be held liable. Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg tells us that he is “not commenting at this time on any other charges that may potentially be related to this case.” In addition to 13 years in prison for selling drugs, Montoya was ordered to serve 10 years of extended supervision. Montoya has been in prison since his arrest in May of 2009 and is requesting credit for time served. Klomberg says he is due none but the matter will be decided by a judge as early as next month.

Columbus Council Adapting Concealed Carry Bill

7/21/11 - Columbus has started to adjust to Wisconsin SB 93…the “Conceal and Carry” bill. Columbus is planning to prohibit persons from carrying firearms in any municipal building. Chief Dan Meister said legal posting of firearm prohibition in all municipal buildings was the first action needed. Another aspect of SB 93 is the provision that City employees can be prohibited from carrying firearms while at work. The new regulations are not likely to go into effect till this fall. Meister and the City Administrator will be bringing plans for posting City buildings and amending personnel handbooks to the Council for approval next month.

Oldest Church in Fox Lake Closing

7/21/11 - The oldest church in Fox Lake will be closing this fall. The First Congregational United Church of Christ has served the community since 1853 and was even used as a recruiting station for soldiers during the Civil War. Time has taken its toll and church treasurer Bev Connor told the city council last night the dissolving of the congregation is needed due to its size and health. However, the church wants to keep the building as part of the community and for that reason they’ve voted to donate it to the Fox Lake Historical Society. Church members told the council the upkeep of the building would be relatively inexpensive and the council appeared receptive to the donation. The church will hold a special ceremony on October 23rd prior to the official closing the following week. City Administrator Bill Petracek said he would draw up the necessary papers to allow the city to accept the donation. The council plans to act on them later this summer.

Lawsuits Filed Against Former Vets Secretary

7/21/11 - Three lawsuits were filed in federal court today accusing former state Veterans’ Affairs Secretary Ken Black of discriminating against white employees. Black, an African-American, was accused of denying one white plaintiff a promotion. He also allegedly fired a second employee improperly, and retaliated against a third person. The three plaintiffs made the same accusations that were leveled against Black in complaints a few months ago to the state’s Equal Rights Division – that he was trying to get rid of older white staff members. Each of the lawsuits seeks both compensatory and punitive damages from Black – who resigned a few weeks ago. The Equal Rights Division found probable cause that Black’s agency might have broken the state’s fair employment laws. The Associated Press said Black hung up when a reporter sought a comment.

Asian Carp Breaks Barrier

7/21/11 - There’s more evidence that the invasive Asian carp has gone beyond the electronic barrier that’s supposed to keep them out of Lake Michigan. The Army Corps of Engineers said nine water samples taken in recent weeks showed positive D-N-A evidence that the dreaded carp got past the long-established barrier. Seven of the positive samples turned up in Lake Calumet, which is just south of downtown Chicago. It has direct access to Lake Michigan. The other two D-N-A confirmations came from a spot near the downtown, and a nearby branch of the Chicago River. The nine samples are among dozens confirmed by D-N-A evidence. But only one actual Asian carp has been spotted beyond the electronic barrier – and that was a 19-pounder caught by a fisherman hired by the state of Illinois. Attorney Tom Cmar of the Natural Resources Defense Council said the Army Corps has been telling people for months that there’s no evidence its barrier has not been working perfectly – and the Corps can only say that without considering the D-N-A samples. The Army Corps has not commented beyond what it said on its Web site. The Asian carp was imported by fish farmers a number of years ago. They’ve gobbled up native fish and their food in the Mississippi River – and Wisconsin and other states are trying to shut down the Mississippi’s water link to Lake Michigan so the invasive fish does not hurt the Great Lakes’ massive fishing industry.

Milk Production Edges Downward

7/21/11 - Wisconsin dairy farmers made less milk in June, while farmers nationally made more. Officials said Wisconsin’s milk production dropped one-point-six-percent from a year ago, to around two-point-two billion pounds. The nation’s total milk output rose one-point-one percent in June, to over 16-and-a-half billion pounds. Production in the 23 major dairy states rose one-point-four percent. And California, the nation’s top milk producer, jacked up its output by three-point-four-percent. Wisconsin remains the nation’s number-two milk-maker. The Badger State added four-thousand cows to its herd – but the production per cow slipped by about 35 pounds, to 17-hundred-45.

Appleton Cops Schooled For Busting Lemonade Stand

7/21/11 - City officials in Appleton now admit they made a mistake when they told two young girls to stop selling lemonade outside the city’s Old Car Show on Sunday. It’s been a neighborhood tradition for 15 years. But police told nine-year-old Vivian Coenen and 10-year-old Lydia Coenen to shut down their lemonade stand on Sunday morning. An officer told them they were breaking a city ordinance. The ordinance was passed last month in Appleton. It bans licensed vendors from selling food-and-drinks within two blocks of any special events, to protect non-profit groups selling food inside. But lots of folks complained after the kids got shooed away. Officials then noticed the ordinance was meant to prohibit only licensed vendors – and kids don’t need licenses to sell lemonade. Appleton Police Chief David Walsh said he and his department took full responsibility – but his officers didn’t mean to harm the kids, and they’ll get training on how to properly carry out the new ordinance.

Top Stories July 20th

Hottest Day of the Heat Wave Expected Today

7/20/11 - It’s Day-Four of Wisconsin’s heat wave – and it could be the hottest. The National Weather Service says temperatures will push at least into the mid-and-upper-90’s statewide this afternoon. Heat index readings will go well into the 100’s again. And some places could have their hottest day since the heat wave of 1995 – when 154 Wisconsinites died from various heat conditions. So far, at least, we have not heard of any deaths directly caused by the heat wave. Some Wisconsin electric utilities say they could break all-time usage records today due to the heavy use of air conditioning. The state’s largest electric transmission service also expects record energy flows today. The American Transmission Company says the system is in good shape. An excessive heat warning is in effect in our area until 9 pm tomorrow night.

Storms Roll Through

7/20/11 - The heat wave produced another round of severe thunderstorms last night, including some that hit our area. Green Lake County was hardest hit, as all of Berlin lost power for a time. Fallen tree branches caused numerous power outages in the Green Lake area. A few large branches fell onto roads in Beaver Dam as well as in Washington County. Earlier in the night in northwest Wisconsin, a funnel cloud was spotted at Turtle Lake. In Polk County, weather officials said numerous buildings were damaged at Pipe Lake – and boats were lifted and docks were destroyed near McKinley. Much of the northwest had scattered tree damage. In central Wisconsin, a funnel cloud was spotted near Veefkind in Clark County, as winds in the region hit 60-miles-an-hour last night. Abbotsford had three-and-a-half inches of rain, and roads near Colby had up to 10-inches of water. To the east, trees fell at Junction City. Plover got almost two-inches of rain in just 50 minutes. And Wausau set a new rainfall record for the date with one-point-five-seven inches.

Cause of Spring Isle Fire ‘Undetermined’

7/20/11 - The Beaver Dam Fire Department has ruled that the cause of a fire at the Spring Isle Apartments late Saturday night cannot be determined. Investigators say there were a number of factors that hindered their ability to conclusively find the direct cause of the blaze. The fire started around 10:30pm on a second floor balcony of the apartment at 1337 Wayland Street. There was significant damage to that unit along with three others. No one was injured. Insurance adjusters have been at the scene for the past couple days surveying damage and the estimates show a loss of over $200,000 dollars. Tenants who were affected by the fire are being relocated to others apartments within the Spring Isle complex.

Highway Department Tending To Road Failures

7/20/11 - The Dodge County Highway Department has seen some road failures on local highways as a result of the extreme heat we’ve been experiencing. Highway Commissioner Brian Field says the majority of the heat-related issues have been joint failures on concrete roadways like Highway 151 and Highway 41. Field says the heat causes the cement slabs to expand, push against each other and crumble. Even with all this heat, Field says his crews have been out paving asphalt streets but he says they are advised to be careful and drink plenty of water. Construction wrapped up last Thursday on the reconstruction of County Highway A between Highway 33 and Oak Grove.

Forbes Denied New Trial

7/20/11 - A Columbia County Judge this week denied a motion for a new trial by defense attorneys for Curtis Forbes. The 54-year-old Randolph man was sentenced in February of first-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Marilyn McIntyre. She was beaten, stabbed, and strangled in March of 1980 at her apartment in Columbus. Her husband Lane was at work at the time, and their three-month-old son was in his crib. Forbes was a friend of the couple, dating back to their high school years. Judge Alan White said that Forbes convicted himself with his own words and while the evidence was circumstantial, he said it was sufficient for a guilty verdict.

Early Prison Release Program Rescinded

7/20/11 - State Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder says Wisconsin is a safer place, after Governor Scott Walker signed the bill to end the early release of prisoners. Suder, a Republican from Abbotsford, was the main sponsor of the repeal – and the Republican Walker signed it Tuesday in Eau Claire. Democrats approved the early releases two years ago at the request of former Governor Jim Doyle. He said it would give non-violent offenders an incentive to behave behind bars – and it would save taxpayers’ money. About 500 prisoners were released early as a result of the program – and Republicans said some were drug dealers and other dangerous criminals. Democrats admitted it was hard to tell how much the program saved. Wisconsin spends about one-point-one billion dollars on its prisons each year.

Senate Approves New Legislative Districts

7/20/11 - Wisconsin senators voted 19-to-14 Tuesday to approve new congressional and state legislative districts that were drawn up by majority Republicans. Democrats again warned that the maps were unconstitutional. And they accused the G-O-P of scrambling to try and assure themselves a decade of power before next month’s recall elections – when Republicans could lose control of the Senate. Not a single Democrat voted for the new maps. And the same was true for measures to have the Supreme Court pick judges to rule on legal challenges to the new districts. Madison Democrat Fred Risser said no other court could hear appeals – and he wondered what would happen to those turned down by the justices. Risser said the maps might be legal, but they’re not fair. He said other groups and individuals besides G-O-P lawmakers should have had a say in what they look like. Democrats accused Republicans of stepping on toes by not following local government district lines that have already been drawn. The G-O-P passed a bill to make such discrepancies legal. The Assembly will take up the redistricting bills Wednesday.

Republican Governor Scott Walker says he wants to get a good look at the maps before deciding whether to sign them into law. A number of Democrats asked why districts that were previously so compact now have to be jettisoned out for dozens of miles – over 100 miles in a northwest Wisconsin Senate district. Senate G-O-P leader Scott Fitzgerald said he heard the same objections from some Republican colleagues. And he called it a challenging puzzle in which lines drawn in northwest Wisconsin affect people in the southeast. Democrat Bob Jauch of Poplar didn’t buy that. And he asked why the four major cities in central Wisconsin need two congressional representatives instead of one. The House maps move the Democratic cities of Wisconsin Rapids and Stevens Point to Democrat Ron Kind’s district in western Wisconsin – while Marshfield and Wausau remain under Republican Sean Duffy.

BDACT & BDMS Present ‘No Strings Attached’

7/20/11 - A modern twist on a classic Disney film will be on the stage of the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater for six performances beginning Wednesday. The Pinocchio-inspired story “No Strings Attached” features a cast of five dozen middle school students giving their take on classic characters like Jiminy Cricket and Geppetto along with new additions like Blues Fairy Mama and Tina Tuna. “No Strings Attached” runs through Friday with show times at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are available at Rechek’s Food Pride or at the door.

Top Stories July 19th

Heat Wave Continues

7/19/11 - A 141-year-old heat record was broken in Madison yesterday. The overnight low was 77 in the Capital City, breaking the record for the date of 76 in 1870. It’s hot everywhere in Wisconsin, but the rolling hills of the southwest are really getting baked. The heat index was 127 near Prairie du Chien yesterday – eight-points warmer than the state’s high on Sunday. It was still 89-degrees in Beaver Dam around 6:30 last night but it felt like 109-degrees. It was even warmer in Watertown at the same time where the temperature was 94-degrees but with the heat index it felt like 121-degrees. Experts say Wisconsin is covered under a large heat mass that’s not going anywhere for a couple more days. The heat index will go back into the triple-digits today in much of the state. Actual highs are expected in the upper-80’s and 90’s. Some big storm systems continue to pop up from time-to-time. Sheet metal from a building was tossed through the air last night at Brandon in Fond du Lac County. New London had hail, and winds in the region hit 50-miles-an-hour. We remain under an Excessive Heat Warning until Thursday night.

BD Residents Could Face New Vehicle Fee

7/19/11 - City residents in Beaver Dam could soon be paying a $10 fee for each car they own. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says the annual registration fee was suggested by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to supplement cuts in funding that are outlined in the new state budget. As part of the budget repair bill, the city is anticipating a $66,000 reduction in road funds from the DOT. Stoiser says there are 15,714 vehicles registered in the city and a $10 fee would bring in $157,000. A $5 fee was also discussed which would cover most of the anticipated $66,000 shortfall in road funds. The proposed vehicle fee ordinance was brought before the city’s Operations Committee last night and while there was no vote in support or against the new fee, the matter was forwarded on to the Administration Committee for consideration. Also last night, the Operations Committee tabled discussion on a proposal that would limit the amount of brush city residents can leave in front of their house for pick-up by the Department of Public Works. The plan would also limit the amount of brush that residents could drop-off in one day at the DPW garage.

Land Sale In New Beaver Dam Business Park Approved

7/19/11 - The Beaver Dam Common Council last night approved the sale of land in the city’s Lakeside Business Park. Engineered Treatment Systems is purchasing 4.4 acres of land at a cost of $20,000 per acre. ETS is owned by Chuck Neuman and provides ultraviolet technology for improving water quality in not only swimming pools and water parks but also drinking water and wastewater. The construction value of the facility is estimated at around $2 million. ETS currently has 14 employees and the new facility could add another half dozen jobs. The council also approved an option by Neuman Properties to purchase an adjacent 5.3 acres of land at the same price for a possible expansion. Construction is anticipated to begin as early as next month.

Beaver Dam Council Approves New Voting Wards

7/19/11 - The Beaver Dam Common Council last night unanimously approved an ordinance establishing new voting wards in the city. Redistricting is required to be done in conjunction with the ten-year census. As part of the process, the Dodge County Board chose to eliminate four of its 36 supervisory districts. Because one of the county board districts being eliminated is in the city of Beaver Dam, the 14 aldermanic wards inside the city have to be redrawn. Most city wards will see very little alteration but some alderpersons were going see as much as 75% of their wards completely change. The city’s Director of Administration John Somers says he worked with the county to lessen that impact and now no ward in the city should see more than a 30% shift in its constituency. The biggest changes will be in the two county board supervisory districts that used to each have two city wards but now will have three wards. Those wards are Four, Five, Eight, Ten, 12 and 14.

Lunch Fees Going Up in the BDUSD

7/19/11 - Lunch fees will be going up over the next three years in the Beaver Dam School District. That’s after the school board approved the increases last night. Officials say the increase is directly related to a federal requirement that schools serve more nutritious meals that will include fresh fruit and vegetables. The increase will be implemented over the next three years to the point where the average between the elementary school and the middle and high schools will be $2.46. That means lunches at the elementary schools will be $2 this fall, up 15-cents from last year. Another 15-cent increase will be seen in the following two years. And lunches and the middle school and high school will increase 20-cents to $2.30 this fall. Another 20-cent increase will happen next year, with an additional 15-cent increase for the 2013-2014 school year. The board also set its annual budget hearing for August 15th.

Senators to Vote on Two Controversial Bills Today

7/19/11 - Wisconsin senators will vote today on one bill to help the long-term unemployed – and another bill that critics say is designed to keep Republicans in power for awhile. The Republican-controlled Senate is scheduled to vote on the controversial plan to create new state-and-congressional districts. The G-O-P said it properly drew the new maps in its obligation to reflect population changes from the new Census. But Democrats said the G-O-P unfairly drew the lines to try and give themselves an advantage at the polls for up to a decade. The unemployment bill would provide 13 more weeks of benefits to thousands of long-term jobless residents. Those people were cut off in April, and the federal government has made 89-million stimulus dollars available in extended benefits. They would be given retroactively. The Assembly is expected tomorrow to act on both the unemployment and the redistricting bills.

Realtors: ’09 – ’10 Home Sales ‘Apples and Oranges’

7/19/11 - Wisconsin home sales dropped by over 17-percent in the first half of this year, compared to the first six months of 2010. And the Wisconsin Realtors’ Association said the median price of the homes sold by their members plunged by seven-point-one percent. The median sales price of a home in the Badger State was 130-thousand dollars from January-through-June, down from 140-thousand the year before. But Realtors say the comparisons are like apples-to-oranges, because first-time home buyers were still getting big federal tax credits a year ago that have long expired. The program ended last April, but buyers still received the tax credits if they were in the process of closing their deals. John Hornung of the Realtors’ Association board says it will quote, “be a couple months before the distortions from the federal tax program work their way out of the data.” The group said the smallest sales declines this year have been in northern Wisconsin and the heavily-populated southeast. Hornung says the sales figures from the north are encouraging, and it shows “signs of life” in the market for second homes. For June, home sales dropped 16-percent from last year to just over 55-hundred. The median price last month was 140-thousand dollars – down 10-thousand from a year ago.

Kohls Not Separating From J-Lo Clothing Brand

7/19/11 - The Wisconsin-based Kohl’s Department Store chain says it will not be hurt by the Jennifer Lopez-Marc Anthony divorce. The Menomonee Falls company still plans to launch men’s-and-women’s clothing lines in September with each celebrity’s name. Kohl’s vice president Vicki Shamion said the Lopez and Anthony brands were always meant to be two separate, distinctive contemporary fashion collections. And they still look forward to launching the new lines. Lopez announced the couple’s break-up last Friday. Kohl’s C-E-O Kevin Mansell had said the celebrity launch would the biggest in his company’s history – and it marked the first time a big-name couple has tied their names to retail clothing lines.

State Parks Jobs Being Filled

7/19/11 - Things could soon get a little cleaner at Wisconsin state parks. Almost one-of-every-four full-time park jobs is vacant because of a hiring freeze. But the new state budget allows for at least some new hiring – and parks’ director Dan Schuller says recruiting efforts have begun. About 50 of the parks’ 212 full-time jobs have been vacant. And the number of seasonal workers is around 630. That’s 250 less than four years ago – and it shows. Office hours have been reduced – trails are being mowed less often – and restrooms don’t get cleaned as often as they used to.

Peeping Tom Reported To BDPD

7/19/11 - A peeping tom incident was reported to the Beaver Dam Police Department over the weekend. It was said to have occurred Thursday at 5pm on the 800 block of Madison Street. The occupant said someone tried to get in her back door. The suspect is described as a male in his 20’s or 30’s, slender build, between 5’8 and 6 foot tall. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department.

Late Night Fire in Beaver Dam

7/17/11 - Fire caused extensive damage to a portion of the Spring Isle Apartments in Beaver Dam last night. Deputy Fire Chief Matt Christian says they got a call around 10:30 p.m. that a fire had broken out in the upstairs portion of an apartment building made up of four residences on Wayland Street. Once on scene they were able to knock the blaze down quickly, though the apartments affected by the fire are unlivable. Christian wasn’t sure how many people were going to be displaced but the Red Cross was being called in to assist. The cause of the fire was still unknown as of early this morning. Prior to the fire department’s arrival officers with the Beaver Dam Police Department were able to clear the buildings and no one was hurt. Beaver Dam received mutual aid from the Fox Lake, Juneau, and Burnett Fire Departments. Crews were still on-scene as of 1 a.m.

Top Stories July 17th

Heat Advisory Beginning at 10am

7/17/11 - With the onset of hot and humid weather for the next week officials with Wisconsin Emergency Management are reminding residents that they need to protect themselves. Temperatures will rise to the mid-90s with heat indexes of up to 115 degrees in some places. The National Weather Service has already issued an Excessive Heat Watch for southwest Wisconsin, while we are under a Heat Advisory from noon until 10pm tonight. Officials are trying to guard against the events of 1995, when two major killer heat waves affected most of Wisconsin resulting in 154 heat-related deaths and over 300 heat-related illnesses. Summer heat waves have been the biggest weather-related killers in Wisconsin for the past 50 years, far exceeding tornadoes and severe storms.

Debate of Redistricting Continues

7/17/11 - Under the G-O-P’s redistricting plans, about 300-thousand Wisconsinites would have to wait for two extra years to vote for a state senator. Attorney Jim Troupis, who helped G-O-P leaders draft the proposed maps, says there’s nothing unusual about it. He tells the Wisconsin Eye cable channel that redistricting normally moves people into districts in which they must wait two extra years for a regular Senate election. That’s because senators’ terms are staggered – and those in the odd-numbered districts won’t be up for re-election until 2014, while those in the even-numbered districts will be up next year. A Senate committee approved the G-O-P’s redistricting plans for state-and-congressional boundaries on a 3-to-2 party-line vote Friday. The biggest swing is in Kenosha County, where 75-thousand people would be carried by Bob Wirch’s Democratic district to freshman Van Wangaard’s Republican district. Also, Senate Republican Mary Lazich of New Berlin would lose 44-thousand voters, many from her home town. They would be scattered among four other districts. Rebecca Mason, the attorney for a group that filed a federal lawsuit against the proposed new districts, said it’s cause for concern that 300-thousand voters are being disenfranchised. The Senate is scheduled to take up the redistricting plan on Tuesday, and the Assembly on Wednesday.

Japan Tragedy has U.S. Looking at Safety Improvements for Nuclear Plants

7/17/11 - A federal task force recommends safety improvements at U-S nuclear power plants, in the wake of this year’s nuclear disaster in Japan. But Wisconsin’s two nuclear plants say they’re at least a little ahead of the game. Spokesman Mark Kanz says the Kewaunee plant has a review team that has made some internal recommendations. Sara Cassidy at the Point Beach plant in Two Rivers says her company will work with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission – but they’ve made some changes already. An N-R-C task force says power plant operators should evaluate their risks for floods-and-earthquakes – have the ability to deal with problems in more than one reactor at a time – and cool spent pools of fuel within the plants. David Lochbaum of the Union of Concerned Scientists says spent fuel that’s at least five years old should be kept in outdoor dry casks instead of in pools inside the plants. Kanz says some of its indoor radioactive waste is more than five years old – but the plant might be willing to change its timetables.

More Results of Badger Poll Released

7/17/11 - If you live in the country, you’re more likely than those that live in urban or suburban areas to be satisfied with the way things are going in Wisconsin. More results from the recent U-W Madison Badger Poll were released Friday. Thirty-eight percent of the rural residents in the poll said they were satisfied with what’s happening in the state. Thirty-seven percent of suburban folks said the same thing. And only 32-percent of urban residents were satisfied. The Badger Poll interviewed 556 people since mid-June. Fifty-five percent said rural areas get less than their fair share of state services and funding. Just 21-percent thought urban areas get less than their fair share.

Regents Approve Tuition Hike

7/17/11 - The regents of the University of Wisconsin System have approved a plan to raise tuitions by several hundred dollars a year for most students. Thursday's decision means tuitions will go up 5.5 percent at all 26 of the system's two- and four-year colleges. That translates to average rate hikes of $381 at the four-year universities and $235 at the two-year schools. The figures don't include additional student fees. The increases apply to undergraduates who are Wisconsin residents. Tuitions for out-of-state students would also increase, but by a smaller percentage because their base tuitions are much higher. This is the fifth straight year that base tuition has increased 5.5 percent at the 13 four-year schools. The rate hike also marks the end of a four-year tuition freeze at the 13 two-year colleges.

New Financial Avenues for College Savings

7/17/11 - Wisconsin’s official college savings program is offering three new funds aimed at reducing costs for investors. Ed-Vest announced this week that a new international investment option is available through Vanguard. And two existing funds are being moved to lower-cost portfolios. They are the Legg Mason Aggressive Portfolio and the Baird Bond Portfolio. As a result of the changes, Ed-Vest now has five options from Vanguard which complement Wells Fargo Management investments that have been part of the state’s plan. Ed-Vest allows parents to save tax-free for their children’s college educations. Program director James DiUlio said earlier that Ed-Vest was looking at new investment choices to become more competitive with similar government savings programs in other states.

Transparency in Government

7/17/11 - Want to know where your tax money is going?  As part of Wisconsin’s two-year budget, the state has to show details of every expense over 100 dollars.  That information will be available on a web site.  Anyone will be able to conduct a search to find out who spent the money and where it went.  State officials say they hope to release full details and have the plan implemented pretty soon.

Navy Combat Ship Named

7/17/11 - One of the 10 new Navy combat ships to be built in Marinette will be named the U-S-S Little Rock. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus made the announcement Friday. Marinette Marine was given a fresh contract a few months ago to build the 10 littoral combat ships, which are smaller vessels designed to operate closer to shores. The construction will be led by a Lockheed-Martin corporate team that’s in Marinette. The Little Rock is the second ship to be named in honor of that Arkansas city. The original U-S-S Little Rock was a light missile cruiser that was de-commissioned in 1976 The new Little Rock will be 378-feet long with a water-line beam of 57-feet. It will run at speeds of over 40-knots.

Baby Formula Being Used in the Drug Trade

7/17/11 - You wouldn’t think that baby formula would be a concern for government drug agents, but it is. Sergeant Gordy Disch of the Dane County Gangs-and-Narcotics Task Force says powdered baby formula is often used to dilute the content of cocaine. That way, dealers can make up to twice their normal profits, by claiming to buyers that their stuff is pure. Other times, Disch says baby formula is simply sold on the black market for the product that it is. Last weekend, Madison Police arrested three women at a grocery store who tried to get away with over 600-dollars worth of baby formula.