Top Stories October 24th

Beaver Dam Woman Injured In Oak Grove Wreck

10/24/11 - The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department now believes the woman they found lying outside of a vehicle following an accident was in fact the driver. 23-year-old Dawn Patzer was found early yesterday morning outside of a vehicle that had come to rest on its side near the intersection of county road A and W. She told deputies that she was a passenger in the vehicle and that the driver had left the scene. However, Sheriff Todd Nehls says they’ve found some evidence that indicates Patzer was the driver. The 23-year-old was transported by Juneau EMS and then flighted to UW Hospital Madison.

BDUSD, Grulke Agree to Settlement

10/24/11 - A lawsuit against the Beaver Dam School District won’t be going to trial. That’s after the school board and now former district secretary Cheryl Grulke came to agreement that settles three different complaints filed by her in late 2010 and early this year. As a result of the final settlement agreement, a trial slated to begin today on whether Superintendent Steve Vessey and the district was in violation of Wisconsin’s open records laws will not go on as scheduled. Among other things, the settlement will see the district pay Grulke about $25,000 as part of a severance agreement, while her attorney’s fees of about $56,000 will also be covered. Vessey must also receive three hours of training on the states public records law and its open meeting law, while all other staff will be provided with copies of the district’s harassment and discrimination policies. The total payout is $90,000 of which $40,000 will be paid for by the district and the remaining payout will be covered by insurance. In a statement, Vessey said the payout is a large amount of money to be spent on anything other than the classroom, but the amount pales in comparison to the total costs that would have been incurred had the district gone to trial. Meanwhile, Grulke said in a statement that she was satisfied with the resolution of the issues and thanked the community for its support.

Four Years In Prison For Seventh OWI

10/24/11 - A Beaver Dam man pleaded “no contest” to seventh-offense drunk driving late last week and was sentenced to four years in prison. 47-year-old Brian Gilmore’s blood alcohol level was over three times the legal limit for driving at point-two-seven-five (.275) when he was pulled over on September 11. Gilmore had been stayed with his sister following his release from prison for sixth-offense OWI and she phoned police about his condition after finding drug paraphernalia in her house.

Beaver Dam Man Gets Probation For Scrap Theft

10/24/11 - A Beaver Dam man was placed on probation during a sentencing hearing late last week on charges that he stole thousands of dollars worth of scrap metal. 23-year-old Joseph Evans took stainless steel sheets from Supreme Manufacturing in May of 2010. He pled “no contest” to felony Theft charges earlier this month, it was the second time Evans had a plea deal worked out in the case. In April, Dodge County prosecutors rescinded a deal after Evans was charged with First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. Authorities say Evans fondled a pre-school age victim in March. He has a five-day jury trial on the molestation charges set to begin in mid-January. Evans could have the Theft charge expunged if he stays out of trouble during his two-year probation.

Whitewater Alderman Pleads To Pot Charge

10/24/11 - Prosecutors say a member of the Whitewater city council sold drugs to an undercover informant on two occasions. Javonni M. Butler pleaded guilty to one felony charge of delivering marijuana. He has resigned his council seat and has been sentenced to 45 days in jail and two years’ probation. Published reports indicate Butler was reelected to the city council earlier this year as a write-in. He had to give up his seat because state law prohibits anyone convicted of a felony from holding public office. The only way he will be able to run again is if the felony charge is expunged from his record.

Wiccan Prison Chaplain Arraigned

10/24/11 - A prison chaplain from Oshkosh has pleaded not guilty to charges she was part of a fake hostage situation last summer. Jamyi Witch made a court appearance Friday in Winnebago County. She is a Wiccan and chaplain at the Oshkosh state prison. She is accused of sexually assaulting the inmate and drugging him during what prosecutors say was a staged hostage incident. Witch maintains she was taken hostage and sexually assaulted by the inmate. She’s accused of faking the incident to get the two of them transferred to another facility. Witch is on paid administrative leave right now.

Governor Thompson’s Brother Mourned

10/24/11 - A former boxer, candidate for Wisconsin governor and the brother of a Wisconsin governor has died at the age of 66. Ed Thompson died Saturday in his home in Tomah of pancreatic cancer. He is famous for – among other things – starting a free community dinner in Tomah which has become a tradition in the town where he was mayor for four years. Thompson was running for state Senate last year when he announced in September he had been diagnosed with cancer. His brother, Tommy Thompson, is a former Wisconsin governor and served in the cabinet of President George W. Bush.

BDCH Recognized With Patient Care Awards

10/24/11 - The Beaver Dam Community Hospital was honored late last week at a health care conference in Chicago with two Excellence in Patient Care awards. to 47 organizations from around the country during its 9th annual What’s Right in Health Care conference, held late last week in Chicago. The hospital was honored for the high standards of patient care delivered by its Emergency Department and Outpatient Services Department. CEO Kim Miller says the honor is a reflection of Hospitals’ mission of delivering excellence in a variety of services. The Beaver Dam Community Hospital was the only Wisconsin hospital honored with an Excellence in Patient Care award.

Juneau PD Part of Drug Take Back

10/24/11 - Add the Juneau Police Department to the list of locations that will be accepting unwanted medications as part of a National Drug Take-Back Initiative on Saturday. The effort is aimed at keeping drugs off the streets, away from kids and out of the water supply. Juneau’s take back will be at the Public Safety Building at 128 East Cross Street in the lobby entrance of the Police Department from 10am until 2pm. The Horicon Police Department will be collecting pharmaceuticals in their Public Safety Building on Ellison Street. The Beaver Dam Police Department is hosting their drug drop in their new police station on Park Avenue. In the spring, the Drug Enforcement Agency collected 188 tons of drugs nationwide.

Bulk Pick-Up For Beaver Dam Starts November 1

10/24/11 - Bulk garbage pick-up for Beaver Dam residents begins next week. Director of Facilities David Stoiser has announced that bulk pick-up will begin Tuesday, November 1 and continue through Monday, November 7 for residents who receive city-provided waste collection services from Veolia. Stoiser says the collection regulations are the same as in the past. Bulk waste can be placed on the curb no sooner than 24 hours prior to each collection and by 7am on the day of pick-up. Bulk waste is defined as, but not limited to, furniture, wooden doors and windows and rolled carpet, not exceeding 4’ to 6’ in length. No metal items like bed springs, appliances and pipes will be collected. Also, they do not accept bundled or loose piles of lumber or building materials; those items must be broken down and placed in the weekly collection cart. New state laws also prohibit a variety of electronics from being picked-up including computers, printers, monitors, cell phones and DVD players. The next bulk pick-up will be in May of 2012.