Top Stories October 29th

Hartford Man Killed in Washington Co. Accident

10/29/11 - A 48-year-old Hartford man was killed in a four-vehicle accident last night about two-miles east of Highway 41 in Washington County. According to the Sheriffs Department, a vehicle driven by a 22-year-old Cedarburg woman was westbound on Highway 60 in the town of Polk when it crossed the centerline and struck the eastbound pickup truck driven by the Hartford man. After the collision the pickup truck overturned and was struck by another westbound pickup truck before coming to rest on its roof. The Hartford man was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle driven by the Cedarburg woman continued westbound colliding with another vehicle, this time an eastbound mini-van, before both vehicles came to rest in the middle of the roadway. The second westbound vehicle that struck the pickup was operated by a 19 year-old Grafton woman, and there were two passengers in that vehicle. The eastbound mini-van was operated by a 36 year-old Germantown man, and there were 3 passengers in that vehicle. All of those involved were injured, but none of the other injuries appear to be life threatening at this time. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor. Highway 60 was completely shut down from the time of the accident until approximately 1:15am.

Halloween Weather Will Vary

10/29/11 - The type of weather you’ll have for Halloween depends on when your community holds its trick-or-treating hours. If you and your kids go out on Saturday in Randolph or Waupun, or on Monday in Cambria or Madison, you’ll probably have dry weather. Beaver Dam, Columbus, Horicon, Juneau and Mayville are among the communities observing All Hallows Eve on Sunday and trick-or-treaters are likely to get wet. The National Weather Service says it’s supposed to be clear Saturday – and then weak low-pressure system will bring showers Sunday before it clears up again Monday. Highs will be in the 40’s-and-50’s through Halloween. Overnight lows will be in the 30’s for the most part. Trick-or-treating temperatures should be about the same as they’ve been the last two years.

Schneider Bound Over for Trial

10/29/11 - A 22-year-old Fond du Lac man accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist while driving drunk, was bound over for trial during a preliminary hearing this week (Th). Christopher Schneider is suspected of hitting 36-year-old Eugene Henry Dennis with his car while Dennis was bicycling on Fond du Lac County Highway WH last month. Dennis died a day later at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. He was wearing a helmet and had a light on the back of his bike when Schneider hit him from behind. Schneider is free on a $1,000 cash bond. Dennis was a former Fond du Lac High School teacher and coach. He was killed just a day after being sentenced to six months in jail for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student.

Lynch Denied Bond Reduction

10/29/11 - A Dodge County judge on Thursday denied a motion for bond reduction for Pat Lynch, the former Fox Lake Police Chief who is facing child molestation and stalking charges. The 55-year-old was seeking to have his bail modified from a cash bond to a signature bond. Lynch is charged with one count of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 13 and three counts of Stalking. The alleged sexual assault of a 7-year-old child occurred in the summer of 1989 at home in Randolph. The victim’s father worked with Lynch at the Randolph Police Department at the time. The victim says, years later, Lynch kept showing up where she worked and would drive his police car past her home. He is also accused of stalking a woman who used to work for the Fox Lake Police Department – as well as a man who was dating his ex-wife. Lynch resigned from his job as police chief in Fox Lake in the spring of 2009. He originally posted a $25,000 cash bond shortly after his arrest in December. Lynch was successful in having his bond reduced to $10,000 in February and received a $15,000 refund. The non-monetary conditions of his bond remain in place, including electronic monitoring and restrictions on having unsupervised contact with minors.

Nebraska Man Facing Burglary Charges in WI

10/29/11 - A Nebraska man who’s accused of attempted murder in Indiana is also facing burglary charges in Sauk County as part of a multi-state crime spree. 38-year-old William Gajdik of Lincoln was arrested October fourth in Fergus Falls Minnesota. And authorities said some of the evidence seized in the crime spree was taken in three house burglaries September 27th near Lake Delton. Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said his department is asking prosecutors to file charges of armed burglary, theft, and criminal damage. But before he can face those charges, Gajdik must have his attempted murder case settled in Dearborn Indiana. Minnesota authorities said they arrested Gajdik on a warrant from Nebraska for burglary and escape. He’s been extradited to Indiana. Meanwhile, Sauk County authorities continue to investigate the burglaries – and those with information are asked to call the sheriff’s office or the Crime Stoppers’ program in Baraboo.

Mayville Taxes Going Up

10/29/11 - Mayville School District taxpayers will see their mil rate jump more than 40-cents over last year. The school board approved the 2011-2012 budget this week with a tax levy of $5.4-million, only a slight increase over last year. However, due to a decrease in state aid and property values, the tax rate is up about 4-percent coming in at $9.70 per thousand dollars of value. That means property taxes on a $150,000 house in the Mayville district will be $1,455 for the school portion of their tax bill. Meanwhile, the city of Mayville will also being increasing their mil rate from last year. According to the public hearing notice, the tax rate is up 13-cents to $8.05 per thousand dollars of value. The city will be hosting their budget hearing on November 15.

Trek Recalls 27,000 Bikes

10/29/11 - At least one person has been injured by a problem with Trek bicycles. A recall has been issued by the Waterloo-based company. A bolt that connects the seat saddle clamp to the seat post is defective, possibly causing riders to fall. About 27 thousand Trek 2012 FX and District bicycles are affected.

Walker Releases Policy on Concealed Weapons in Capitol

10/29/11 - Those with permits will be able to carry concealed weapons into most state government facilities starting next Tuesday. That’s when the Badger State becomes the 49th to adopt a concealed carry law. Governor Scott Walker’s administration released its policy on hidden weapons in state buildings Friday. Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch says those with concealed carry permits are law-abiding citizens and quote, “We must respect their right to keep-and-bear arms under the U-S and Wisconsin constitutions.” Both employees and their clients can carry hidden weapons if they have the correct permits. Exceptions include places where firing a gun might cause a chemical explosion – and corrections’ and public defender facilities where convicted and accused criminals gather. At the Capitol, the Supreme Court will continue to be gun-free, as will the Capitol Police office and the Senate chamber. But all public hearing rooms will allow concealed carry, as will the Assembly chamber. Individual lawmakers can decide whether to allow hidden weapons in their own offices.

GOP Loses a Lawyer Over Bill

10/29/11 - A high-profile attorney says he will stop representing Wisconsin Republicans. Vince Megna says he’s not happy with the bill the G-O-P drafted, which limits legal fees in consumer fraud cases to three times the amount of damage awards. The 67-year-old Megna is best known for representing those with vehicle problems under state lemon laws. He told the Associated Press he has turned down one potential Republican client he had been speaking with since this summer. Megna, from Milwaukee, said he would not help Republicans quote, “get redress under the very laws they helped destroy.” Megna has represented over 15-hundred clients in lemon cases – over 700 involving General Motors alone. Last year, he won a 482-thousand-dollar award against Mercedes-Benz. At the time, he said it was largest settlement involving a single vehicle. Megna also represented the truck owner who sued Burlington car dealer David Lynch, who had to pay 151-thousand-dollars in legal fees because he made a five-thousand-dollar repair the owner did not authorize. It was that case which spurred Republicans to limit legal fees. A judge can still grant higher fees in some cases. But Democrats say attorneys will still shy away from smaller consumer cases because of the legal fee limits. The measure passed the Senate Thursday. It now goes to the Assembly.