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.