Top Stories March 12th

Columbus May Go to Two Schools

3/12/12 - It’s looking more and more likely that residents in the Columbus School District will see a referendum on their ballots this fall. A committee has been studying the district’s buildings and how they can be used more efficiently. The latest discussion has led to the possibility of the district going from having three school buildings to just two. The most popular option includes converting the elementary school into a K-5 building, while the high school would accommodate 6th through 12th grades. Under that option the current middle school would be sold or demolished. Officials say going to two buildings would lower future district operations and maintenance costs.

Man Arrested After Chase

3/12/12 - A Randolph man led police on a traffic pursuit through two counties early yesterday morning. Authorities say they pulled over 25-year-old Steven Persinger in Randolph. He had a warrant out for his arrest and fled the traffic stop. Officers chased Persinger into Columbia County. Fall River police laid down stop spikes to pop his tires and got the vehicle to stop. Persinger was arrested and taken to jail.

Beaver Dam Company to be Featured on Fox Business News

3/12/12 - Venture Manufacturing in Beaver Dam will have some nationwide attention tonight. The metal fabricating company, which has 27 full-time and temporary workers, has two-minutes of air time on the Fox Business Network as part of an infomercial-type feature called Modern Marvels. The segment will air at 8:35pm and the video is also posted on the Venture Manufacturing website at www.venturemfggroup.com.

Law Would Put Further Restrictions on Who Can Carry a Weapon

3/12/12 - If Milwaukee Police had their way, anyone with three criminal misdemeanor convictions in a five-year period could not legally carry concealed weapons. The change is one of three that Wisconsin’s largest police force is asking state legislators to consider, to fine-tune the concealed-carry law adopted last November. The other changes would make it a felony instead of a misdemeanor to buy a gun for someone who cannot legally buy one – and to make it a felony for those caught carrying concealed weapons without a state permit more than three times. Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn says he knows that lawmakers only have four days left in their current session – and therefore, his proposals won’t likely be considered until next year. The gun rights group Wisconsin Carry Incorporated says the proposals are overly broad, and could prevent law-abiding people from carrying concealed weapons. Nik Clark of Wisconsin Carry says he’s most concerned about banning permits for those with three misdemeanor convictions. Milwaukee Police chief-of-staff Joel Plant says it’s needed because many career criminals never get felony convictions, as their charges are always reduced in plea bargains. But Clark says that’s the justice system’s problem – and police should tell the district attorney to stop giving out plea deals for serious offenses. But Flynn says there wouldn’t be enough jail space to house those offenders, and plea deals are necessary. But Clark says protestors in Madison can easily get three disorderly conduct misdemeanors just by being politically alive. He says Milwaukee Police should narrow down the list of misdemeanors that would be counted against a concealed carry permit.

Waupun Man in Court for Assault, Kidnapping

3/12/12 - A case against a Waupun man accused of assaulting and kidnapping his former girlfriend is going to trial. On Friday, a Fond du Lac County judge said there was enough evidence to order a trial against 41-year-old Jeffery Parkans. He's facing several charges, including first degree sexual assault. Prosecutors say Parkans was upset that his ex-girlfriend had started talking with another man. He managed to get the woman to take him to a doctor’s appointment and later convinced her to let him stay at her house for the night. The criminal complaint says Parkans attempted to have sex with the woman - and when she refused - he threatened her with a knife. He allegedly stabbed the bed and ran the knife down the woman's back causing some cuts and scrapes. After allegedly forcing the woman to have sex with him, Parkans put her in a car and planned to drive her to West Bend. The woman's son called police. They were able to take Parkans into custody in Washington County. Records show the woman told police that Parkans had intended to give nearly $6,000 to his son in West Bend and then get into a firefight with authorities.

Waupun Residents to See Electric Bill Increase

3/12/12 - Electric bills for Waupun residents are on their way up for the first time since 2006. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission recently approved a $5.63 or 7.2% increase for Waupun Utilities customers. The company had asked for a 8.3% jump. Officials say the new rates will push profits up by $216,000 to $10.6-million. The company said the roughly $100,000 cut from it's request to the PSC would be missed - but they don't believe it will be a huge issue. The company isn't planning any big capital projects this year. They are considering installing automated meter readers for its customers to see if it could save them money. Customers will see the increase on their bill starting next month.

Rescuers: Wisconsin Man Among the Missing

3/12/12 - The Coast Guard says a Wisconsin man and three others are unlikely to be alive, after they were missing from a fishing boat off the coast of Washington State. Rescuers suspended a search yesterday for 25-year-old Chris Langel of Kaukauna, 22-year-old Luke Jensen of Ilwaco Washington, and two Oregon men – 42-year-old Dave Nichols and 38-year-old Jason Bjaranson. The 70-foot Lady Cecelia sent a distress signal early Saturday. A beacon led crews to an empty lifeboat, a field of debris, and an oil sheen a few miles off the Washington coast. There was no word on what type of debris was found, or if the vessel was still intact. The lifeboat that was found did not have identifying marks – but officials said it was probably from the Lady Cecelia. Coast Guard Petty Officer Shawn Eggert said the search for the men covered 640 square miles, and it lasted quote, “far beyond what the capacity of somebody to survive in these conditions might be.” Rescuers encountered moderate waves but there were not stormy conditions. The water temperature was 43 degrees when the boat went missing. Langel was on board to monitor the fish caught by the others. He was employed by Saltwater Incorporated, which has an office in Seattle.

Ice Cover on Great Lakes is Declining

3/12/12 - A report from the American Meteorological Society says the ice covering the Great Lakes has declined 71 percent over the last 40 years. Researchers measure ice coverage by examining reports from the U.S. Coast Guard and satellite pictures taken between 1973 and 2010. They say only about five percent of the Great Lakes’ surface froze over this year. The ice coverage was 79 percent less on Lake Superior and 88 percent less on Lake Ontario. Scientists attribute the reduction to broad climate change and smaller climate cycles like El Nino and La Nina.

Benefactors for 15th Annual WBEV/WXRO Radiothon Announced

3/12/12 - Two brand new charities will be joining some familiar non-profits at this year’s WBEV-WXRO Children’s Radiothon. The Watertown Family Center and Beaver Dam’s Waterworks Park Project have been selected this year to receive the funds raised as part of the marathon broadcast. This year’s recipients will also include People Against Violent Environments, The Parent Resource Place, Green Valley Enterprises, Clothes for Kids, YMCA of Dodge County, Big Brothers/Big Sister, Community Care Preschool & Child Care, and New Beginnings Homeless Shelter. This year marks the 15th year of the Radiothon, which will take place on June 21 and June 22.

Mega Millions at $171M

3/12/12 - The Mega Millions’ jackpot is 171-million-dollars tomorrow night. Nobody won the top prize on Friday night, and nobody from Wisconsin won the quarter-million-dollar second prize, either. The current jackpot is the largest since December 27th, when a 206-million-dollar jackpot was won. Tomorrow’s cash option is just under 125-million-dollars for a single winner who takes the whole prize now instead of in annual installments. The Powerball jackpot is at 50-million for Wednesday night.