Top Stories July 4th

Happy 4th of July!

7/4/11 - It’s the final day of the Columbus 4th of July Celebration. It gets underway this morning at 7:30 with the Firecracker 5, which is a five mile run and two mile run/walk. That starts at the Columbus High School. The 4th of July Parade kicks off at noon and you can listen to it live on WBEV. Music gets started at 2:30 when T.J. Howell Rocket Man and The King and Diamonds take the main stage. And tonight Save the Day closes out the entertainment on the main stage. They’ll get going around 7:30 and are slated to run until 11:30. In case of inclement weather all Main Stage Entertainment will be in the Park Pavilion. Organizers say the fireworks will begin at dusk.

Fireworks Display for Monday July 4th
Fond du Lac: Dusk over Lake Winnebago
Waupun: Dusk at Juniper Hill
Green Lake: Dusk over Green Lake
Columbus: Dusk at Fireman’s Park

Dodgeland Approves Preliminary Budget

7/4/11 - The Dodgeland School Board approved a preliminary budget for the 2011-2012 school year recently. More than half the $8.9-million budget is going for salary and benefits. The budget currently has a $256,000 deficit that will likely have to be made up with money from the districts fund balance. Making things difficult for Dodgeland, like most for the state, is the cut in aid from the state as part of the two-year budget that took effect July 1st. Dodgeland is slated to lose about $300,000 from this past school year to the coming one. The loss in aid is supposed to be made up, in part, by the teachers and support staff contributing more to their health insurance and pension. Dodgeland has it slightly better when compared to other districts in the area as the $300,000 is a cut of 4.9%. Meanwhile, Cambria Friesland, Columbus, Horicon, Mayville, Watertown and Waupun are losing more than 10-percent each. Officials say these are only estimates that could vary by the time they are finalized.

Free Photo ID Cards Available

7/4/11 - For the first time the state is offering photo ID cards for free to Wisconsin residents needing one to vote. This was affect people who don't have a drivers license or other form of photo identification. Although the normal 28 dollar charge is waived for some, there's not much that can be done about the wait. One woman told the Wisconsin State Journal she had to wait for nearly two hours at the Division of Motor Vehicles Center on Madison's far east side. The bill requiring the photo ID went into effect last month, but the availability of free identification didn't start until Friday - when the new budget year began.

Linzenmeyer Retiring

7/4/11 - After 37-years in the Mayville Police Department Bill Linzenmeyer is retiring. Linzenmeyer started as a patrolman in 1974 and made his way up the chiefs position in 2000. During his time as chief, Linzenmeyer played a big role in advancing the departments technology and the starting of a K-9 program. Linzenmeyer isn’t retiring entirely as he will remain the part-time chief for Rubicon, Neosho and Ashippun. His retirement was effective June 30th. Captain Chris MacNeill will be the acting chief while the Police and Fire Commission searches for a replacement.

Cleanup from Friday Storm in NE Wisconsin Underway

7/4/11 - Almost 40 people were injured badly enough to go to the hospital when a strong storm pounded northwestern Wisconsin Friday night. Most were treated and released, but an 11 year old girl was killed and three people were left in critical condition. A man who suffered a heart attack is a second death at least indirectly blamed on the storm. The storm brought winds of almost 80 miles per hour and dropped hail said to be softball-sized. Burnett County was packed with holiday campers when the storm hit. Boats were blown ashore, thousands lost electrical service and an airport hanger in Douglas County fell apart, damaging a small airplane. About 17 thousand people normally live in Burnett County, but there were an estimated 80 thousand visitors there this weekend. Xcel Energy reports almost 100 thousand customers lost power in an area from South Dakota to western Wisconsin. The vast majority were back Saturday night.

Britton Trial Set to Begin in Hudson

7/4/11 - When the murder trial for Jared Britton starts Tuesday in Hudson, the defense plans to introduce evidence the victim's bicycle had bad brakes. Britton is one of two former UW-Stout hockey players accused in the death of Bradley Simon. Prosecutors say Simon was shoved off the bike he was riding and into a concrete wall. The 22 year old student from Waunakee died five days later. Britton's defense attorney says that bike was stolen - and it had bad brakes. Jedidiah McGlasson is the other former Stout hockey player accused. Britton and McGlasson reportedly argued with the dead man in the Log Jam tavern, then chased him when he tried to ride away on the bicycle.

Woman Charged for Ramming Another Car Repeatedly

7/4/11 - A 40 year old Racine woman is charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety. Belinda Flores is accused of repeatedly ramming another car which had three children inside. Prosecutors say a 20 year old woman was driving Friday morning in Racine in a vehicle with her children aged four, two and eight months. An 18 year old passenger was also in the car when the woman says Flores started following her and eventually ran right into her car. Flores says she saw the 20 year old driver going the wrong way down the street. She says he was angry with the woman and decided to run into her car.

Former Teacher Facing 25 Years in Prison

7/4/11 - A former teacher at Wausaukee High School could get up to 25 years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a high school freshman girl. Kurt Edward Kostelecky pleaded no contest last week to second-degree sexual assault of a child. The relationship at the center of the case happened during the 2008-2009 school year. Kostelecky is scheduled to be sentenced August 29.

Cuts Coming at Diversey Plant

7/4/11 - A total of 57 packaging operators, mechanics, chemical processors and analysts will be laid off starting in September at the Diversey plant in Sturtevant. The company notified the state of its plans last week. Diversey makes cleaning products. It said its lease with the facility is ending and it plans to move the production to other plants it owns. The layoffs are scheduled to begin September 17. When complete, that manufacturing operation will be closed permanently.

Rib Mountain Road Work Completed in Time for Holiday

7/4/11 - Just in time for Fourth of July holiday travelers, the road work on the main route into Rib Mountain State Park has been completed. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources made the announcement Friday. The final touches included the installation of a few traffic signs. The project included creation of a walking path to give pedestrians a more safe was to enter the park. Officials say they had noticed people entering Rib Mountain Park on foot and they had to walk along the roadway to accomplish that.