Top Stories February 21st

DNR Again Warning of Ice Dangers

2/21/12 - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Warden Heather Gottschalk is again urging the public not to go out on the ice. The warning comes in response to this weekend’s fatal snowmobile accident on Beaver Dam Lake that claimed the life of 45-year-old Allen Aufdermauer. He was one of six people from the Neosho-area who encountered open water on Saturday. 43-year-old Paula Aufdermauer, 46-year-old Randy Pearce and a 13-year-old boy were also transported to the hospital. Gottschalk says there was never good ice this year and Beaver Dam Lake is “extremely unstable” with several heaves, cracks, uneven ice and open water. She adds the decision to go out on the ice puts your life at risk and the lives of first responders.

BD Council Splits On $300K No Bid Contract

2/21/12 - By a narrow vote, the Beaver Dam Common Council last night tabled a resolution to hire MSA Professional Services to do engineering work on the city’s newest business park. Administrative Committee Chair Don Neuert says it would have been irresponsible to taxpayers to award a $300,000 contract without going out for bid. The Operations Committee signed off on the contract last week and Chair Laine Meyer says it would be foolish to have another engineering firm jump into the middle of a project, especially given the fact that MSA is the city’s contracted consulting engineer and has worked on this project since the beginning. The debate grew heated at times with Mayor Tom Kennedy warning alderpersons that they would be voting against staff recommendations and Alderman Neuert taking offense to the warnings. The city is in the process of expanding TIF #4 on the north side to include a third business park and engineering work on the $3 million dollar project would lay the ground work for infrastructure construction, like electric and water utilities, including the erection of a north side water tower. Under the motion approved last night on a 6 to 5 vote, city officials will seek bids from three companies with hopes of having numbers available by next month to review and compare.

Family Center Supporting Filtration Pond

2/21/12 - The Beaver Dam Common Council approved plans to start work on a new storm water management pond near the Family Center. The basins are part of a state DNR-mandate that requires municipalities to filter pollutants from storm water. Officials are trying to construct one pond a year. While several locations have been identified, Beaver Dam is running out of city-owned property and has already had several sites rejected, for everything from contamination concerns to a wetlands designation. Officials say they have identified an ideal spot near Prospect Avenue and Jacob Gassen’s Way, right near the Family Center. For starters, the grassy field is located at the intersection of four large storm sewers. The project would also tie-into the city’s 2013 reconstruction of Prospect Avenue which is being done in conjunction with a state reconstruction of Highway 151. Council action last night allows the city to hire the state contractor to remove dirt from the pond site for use in ramp construction. The price tag is $25,000, which is about $100,000 cheaper than it would have been without the agreement. The Family Center Board told the city’s Operations Committee last week that the non-profit organization has long considered making an offer on the city-owned parcel to add a second ice rink. Family Center Board President Paul Uttech asked the city’s Operations Committee last week to consider building a pond somewhere else. Operations Committee Chair Laine Meyer said he would give the Family Center a week to determine if they were ready to move forward in the immediate future. Uttech told the city last night that his board agreed the pond project was in the best interest of the city. He says the Family Center board will further explore a city offer to use the water filtration pond in the cold weather months as an outdoor skating rink.

Former Alderman Capelle Remembered

2/21/12 - The Beaver Dam Common Council held a moment of silence at the onset of last night’s meeting for former Alderman Terry Capelle, who died last week at the age of 70. Capelle served on the council and various committees from April of 1995 through April of 2007.

DNR Again Warning Of Ice Dangers

2/21/12 - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Warden Heather Gottschalk is again urging the public not to go out on the ice. The warning comes in response to this weekend’s fatal snowmobile accident on Beaver Dam Lake that claimed the life of 45-year-old Allen Aufdermauer. He was one of six people from the Neosho-area who encountered open water on Saturday. 43-year-old Paula Aufdermauer, 46-year-old Randy Pearce and a 13-year-old boy were also transported to the hospital. Gottschalk says there was never good ice this year and Beaver Dam Lake is “extremely unstable” with several heaves, cracks, uneven ice and open water. She adds the decision to go out on the ice puts your life at risk and the lives of first responders.

Sheriff’s Department Release 911 Call

Teagan Marti Walking Again

2/21/12 - There was a heart-tugging moment in Madison Monday, when a teenage girl who fell 100-feet at a Wisconsin Dells amusement park walked up to a podium under her own power. Teagan Marti returned to American Family Children’s Hospital for the first time since she broke her spine and pelvis in July of 2010. She helped announce a new 32-million-dollar expansion to the Madison hospital, which will provide specialized pediatric care. Teagan fell from the Terminal Velocity ride at Extreme World in Lake Delton. And after she was airlifted to the hospital, no one could say if she would ever walk again. But yesterday, hospital staffers and reporters alike watched in awe as she walked up to the podium. It was her first visit to the Madison children’s hospital since her treatment which followed the accident. A fund-raising campaign brought in just over half the cost of the new addition, and the hospital is picking up the rest. Construction is due to begin later this year. The first phase is expected to be ready by 2014. It will add 26 critical care beds, along with heart care and imaging services.

All But One Campbellsport Victim Out of Hospital

2/21/12 - All but one of the six Campbellsport High School girls who survived a van crash 16 days ago are home from the hospital. Officials at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital said yesterday that 16-year-old Allie Adams has been sent home. That leaves 16-year-old Jessica Harbin as the only one still hospitalized – and her family is not allowing condition reports to be released. Caitlin Scannell, Sabrina Stahl, and Katie Berg were killed in the van crash on February fourth on a rural road close to Campbellsport High. Authorities said the van lost control at excessive speed at the bottom of the hill – and it rolled over in a frozen field. The nine girls were on the Campbellsport varsity and junior varsity girls’ soccer teams. Officials say the crash remains under investigation. The driver, 18-year-old Carly Ottery, is among those back home after getting treatment.

Klingbeil Formally Charged With OWI Injury

2/21/12 - A Clyman man has been formally charged in connection with a weekend drunk driving accident that resulted in injuries. Ronald Klingbeil is charged with felony Operating While Intoxicated, Causing Injury – Second Offense and misdemeanor Operating After Revocation. Authorities say the 61-year-old has not had a driver’s license for over 30 years and has three previous OWI’s. Klingbeil was traveling southbound on Highway 67 Saturday afternoon in the Town of Hubbard when veered onto the shoulder of the road, lost control of his vehicle, spun counter-clockwise into the opposite lane of traffic and collided with a northbound vehicle. Both vehicles wound up in the ditch. The driver of the other vehicle sustained back injuries and was treated and released from a local hospital. Klingbeil had neck injuries and was taken into custody after his brief hospital stay. His blood alcohol level was allegedly over the legal limit for driving at point-two-zero-eight (.208). If convicted, the charges carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and another two-and-a-half year’s without a driver’s license.

Columbus Referendum Target Reflects Tolerable Mill Rate Increase

2/21/12 - Columbus Schools’ Facilities Committee members were briefed on tax payer costs for the referendum expected next Nov. Financial Advisor Carol Wirth told the Committee that the projects being discussed would result in an increase in tax levy. Superintendent Bryan Davis said that most School referenda do not meet voter approval when increases get too high. In the Columbus District that would be about $28 million. The Committee will have to pare down the scope of the three $40 million dollars project options under discussion. The Committee meets again on Feb. 29.