Top Stories August 8th

BDPD: ‘Month of Violent Crimes Not Random Acts’

8/8/11 - An armed robbery, the assault of a teenager by a gang of knife-wielding thugs and, most-recently, a violent pistol-whipping on Madison Street… all in the span of one month; should this be a cause of concern for residents in an otherwise quiet city? Not according to Beaver Dam Police Detective Ryan Klavekoske who told us Friday on WBEV’s Community Comment they were all isolated incidents and not random acts of violence. He says the gang-style beating after Lake Days and the pistol-whipping on Madison Street last week were both incidents that targeted a specific victim and were not at all similar to the rampage seen at the Wisconsin State Fair last week. Meanwhile, Klavekoske says he is confident there will be a successful resolution to the robbery at the Shell Travel Mart on Park Avenue from July 13. Klavekoske says they have “significant” pieces of evidence at the State Crime Lab and he says they continue to follow-up on leads.

High Profits For Manufacturer Of Glacier Hill Turbines

8/8/11 - The wind tower manufacturer that constructed turbines for the Glacier Hills Wind Farm in Columbia County is reporting high second quarter sales. Broadwind Energy Inc. says sales of turbines made in Manitowoc and other factories rose 48% in the second quarter for the firm. Sales of wind towers totaled $24.5 million, up $8 million from last year. For the first six months of the year, sales were nearly doubled, to $52.7 million. Broadwind Energy is based in Naperville, Illinois and is the parent company of the former TowerTech in Manitowoc. The Manitowoc factory produced towers now under construction for We Energies Glacier Hills Wind Park near Friesland. Towers accounted for nearly two-thirds of the sales for Broadwind Energy, which says it is diversifying beyond wind power into industrial businesses, and said it's seeing strong demand from the oil and gas sector. CEO Peter Duprey says he considers Broadwind “well positioned on the tower side” to pick up business as wind developers move to build projects by the end of 2012, when wind energy production tax credits are slated to expire. The 90 wind turbines at Glacier Hills are on track to be completed by the end of 2011. The project will produce up to 162 megawatts, capable of providing power to more than 45,000 homes.

Waupun Voters Among Those Heading To The Polls

8/8/11 - Voters in Waupun will be the only residents in Dodge County eligible to vote in Tuesday’s recall election. In the 18th State Senate District, incumbent Republican Randy Hopper of Fond du Lac is being challenged by Oshkosh Deputy Mayor Jessica King. The two candidates have vastly differing views on recent cuts in education. King says the ability for some districts to meet their budgets next year because of changes in collective bargaining is a short term success story. She thinks the quality of education will suffer because of the exodus of teachers leaving the field. Hopper says there are already examples in Fond du Lac and Appleton of school districts being able to balance their budgets and as a result retain and fill teaching vacancies. The 18th State Senate District is one of six State Senate seats held by Republicans up for election Tuesday. One week later, two seats held by Democrats will be voted on.

Olsen Faces First-Ever Democratic Challenger

8/8/11 - It's the first time this has ever happened to Republican state Senator Luther Olsen. He has a Democratic opponent. In Tuesday's recall election, Olsen will be facing Fred Clark of Baraboo. Five other Republicans face recall elections on the same day. Some Democratic party officials say they see the Clark-Olsen race as the one that could give them control of the Wisconsin Senate. If Democrats pick up three seats there, they could take control and have the ability to block the Republican legislative agenda.

Election Clerks Expect Close Scrutiny In Recalls

8/8/11 - Election clerks in are expecting a lot of scrutiny in the State Senate recall elections. Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg says she’s spoken to people who’ve gotten calls asking them about serving as an observer at the polls. Fond du Lac City Clerk Sue Strands says they’ve instructed election workers about all of those who will be around the polls to observe or do exit polling. Freiberg says as long as those observers don’t interfere in the election process they are welcome to watch.

Boat Patrol Transports Man With Severe Burns

8/8/11 - The Dodge County Sheriffs Department utilized their boat patrol early yesterday (Sunday) morning to transport a man back to shore who had walked through fire on Campers Island on Lake Sinissippi. Sheriff Todd Nehls says because of his level of intoxication, the 46-year-old Milwaukee man was not cooperating with other people on the campground island and deputies were called to transport him to the main land. He was then taken to Watertown Hospital by Lebanon EMS for treatment of severe burns. It is unknown if the man accidentally walked through a campfire or if he intentionally walked through hot coals but Nehls says with a preliminary breath test at twice the legal limit he was definitely channeling spirits.

Naked Man Dies After Tasing

8/8/11 - A man who was running naked through downtown Kaukauna early Saturday morning has died after police tried to subdue him using a stun gun. Appleton police will investigate the case. When Kaukauna police approached the man at about 5 a.m. he was reportedly sweating heavily and claimed he was covered by snakes, saying he was dead. An ambulance was called, but the man started running again when it arrived. When officers were unable to control him, the stun gun was used. Medical personnel treated him, but he was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital. An autopsy will be done. Police say they found evidence he was using drugs at his apartment.

Rural Brillion man Charged In Mothers Death

8/8/11 - A man who lives in rural Brillion is charged with shooting his mother to death. Outagamie County prosecutors say 34 year old Randal Rosenthal shot his mother in the head. He now faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide. Kathleen Remter's body was found in the Fox River near Kaukauna July 22. Remter and her son had been fishing in Buchanan earlier that day. Rosenthal's wife told authorities Remter had argued with her son earlier that morning about the fact he didn't have a job. Prosecutors say Remter had taken out a life insurance policy last October worth 500 thousand dollars. He son was the sole beneficiary. Blood found on the suspect's jeans reportedly matched his mother's DNA.

Baboon Found In Madison Basement

8/8/11 - Dane County Animal Service officials say they will try to place a three year old baboon in a zoo, a sanctuary or a primate rescue facility. The man who owed the baboon had originally denied owning it, then later agreed to surrender the animal to avoid paying fines for violating Madison's exotic animal law. The baboon was named Monkey. The owner had built a cage and a rope swing and the baboon was apparently in good condition, even though it wasn't being kept in the proper environment. When officials went to the man's house last week, he admitted the baboon was in his basement laundry room at the time.