Top Stories March 13th

GAB Orders Recall Elections Against Four Senators

3/13/12 - The Wisconsin elections’ panel ordered recall elections Monday for four Republican state senators. The Government Accountability Board agreed that there are enough valid petition signatures to order recall votes against Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau, Terry Moulton of Chippewa Falls, and freshman lawmakers Van Wanggaard of Racine and Pam Galloway of Wausau. The Board did not recommend a date for the elections. Officials want to hold them at the same time as those expected for Republican Governor Scott Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch. But a Dane County judge could have the final say on that. The Board said there were about 38-hundred more signatures than the 15-thousand-plus required to seek a recall election against Wanggaard. There were 37-hundred more signatures than necessary against Moulton – 29-hundred more than needed against Galloway – and about 15-hundred more than required for a vote against Fitzgerald. Board staffers have recommended that all recall elections take place on May 8th. If there are primaries they would be held on that day with the general election being held June 5th.

Judge Permanently Strikes Down Voter ID Law

3/13/12 - Wisconsin’s attorney general says he’ll appeal Monday’s court ruling that permanently struck down the state’s photo I-D law for voting. Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess upheld the arguments in a lawsuit from the state’s League of Women Voters – that poor, elderly, and minority voters would be locked out of the voting process, because it would be harder if not impossible for them to get the I-D’s allowed under last year’s law. But in a statement, Attorney General J-B Van Hollen insisted that the law is quote, “consistent with the Constitution.” The ruling came six days after another Dane County, David Flanagan, issued a temporary injunction in a second state lawsuit against the voter I-D law. Van Hollen is also appealing that case, which was brought by the N-Double-A-C-P and a Milwaukee Hispanic group. In an eight-page ruling, Niess said the state’s approval of the I-D law quote, “sows the seeds for its own demise as a democratic institution.” And he warned that quote, “A government that undermines the very foundation of its existence – the people’s inherent, pre-constitutional right to vote – imperils its legitimacy as a government by the people, for the people, and especially of the people.” Cullen Werwie of Governor Scott Walker’s office said it’s quote, “a shame activist Dane County judges continue to stand in the way of common sense.” Government Accountability Board director Kevin Kennedy told local government clerks to keep preparing to implement the photo I-D law, so they’ll be ready if the courts suddenly restore it.

Watertown Woman Accused Of Bilking Man For $130K

3/13/12 - A Watertown woman is accused of bilking an elderly man out of $130,000. 32-year-old Katrina Fredrick appeared in Dodge County court Monday on nine felony counts of Theft by False Representation, which carry a maximum prison sentence of 76 years behind bars if she is convicted. Fredrick is a family friend of the 76-year-old victim. The scam started in January of 2011 with Fredrick telling him that she needed the money for an ongoing series of medical treatments, supplies and prescriptions. She told him that the he would be completely reimbursed once she is accepted by Badger Care, the state’s low-income medical coverage plan. Fredrick also said she was suing a hospital for malpractice and he would be reimbursed from the settlement. She went so far as to have phony legal documents drawn up. The alleged con continued until last September when the victim’s son contacted county officials and the Dodge County Human Services Department called police. Fredrick reportedly confessed the scam when questioned by investigators saying she used all the money on drugs. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is on the calendar next month.

Fleeing Suspect Didn’t Think It’d Be A Felony

3/13/12 - A Minnesota man who allegedly led police on a traffic pursuit through two counties early Sunday morning was in Dodge County court for an Initial Appearance Monday. Steven Persinger of St. James, Minnesota is charged with felony Fleeing an Officer and misdemeanor Obstruction. According to the criminal complaint, the 25-year-old is in the process of moving back to Wisconsin and was at his storage unit when he was observed by Randolph police, who say they found his being at a storage unit at 1am suspicious. The arresting officer reportedly took up to a half-hours time to verify that Persinger had two outstanding Columbia County arrest warrants. During that time, Persinger was said to be agitated by the delay. When the officer received confirmation on the warrants and asked him to exit the vehicle, Persinger reportedly closed the window, lit a cigarette and made a telephone call. He then drove out of the parking lot, stopping at stop signs, driving the speed limit, using his turn signal and operating in the correct lane of traffic. Fall River police eventually laid down road spikes and popped a tire bringing his vehicle to a stop. Authorities then executed a high-risk traffic stop with guns drawn. Persinger is said to have remained on the phone until finally surrendering without further incident. When informed that he had just possibly committed a felony, Persinger was reportedly surprised, saying when he (quote) “ran from police in Minnesota it was just a misdemeanor.”

Husty Woman Accused of Supplying Son With Drugs

3/13/12 - A Hustisford woman accused of supplying her son with drugs so that he can sell them had a signature bond set at $1000 during an Initial Appearance Monday. 54-year-old Debra S. Steffen is charged with Using a Child to Distribute Drugs, Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs, Maintaining A Drug Trafficking Place and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. Authorities say an undercover member of the Dodge County Drug Task Force purchased 20 pills of Diazepam, which similar to Valium, late last year from her 16-year-old son. Steffen allegedly told investigators that she knew he was selling her prescription medications to make “a few extra bucks” and said he was not a “high-level drug dealer.” Starting last summer, she reportedly started to give him about half of the 60 pills she is prescribed each month and he would sell them for between $2 and $3 each. If she is convicted, the four felony charges carry a maximum total of over 30 year’s in prison. A judge will decide on April 19 if there is enough evidence to order a trial.

Fond du Lac Man Gets Sixth OWI In BD

3/13/12 - A Fond du Lac man has been formally charged with sixth offense drunk driving after being arrested by Beaver Dam police just after bar closing time Saturday morning. Jeffrey J. Parzy was pulled over on Park Avenue at 2:30am. Authorities say the 46-year-old had open alcohol in the vehicle and refused a breathalyzer. When the officer asked if he should be driving, Parzy reportedly said quote “I can drive. I really don’t want to though if you don’t want me to.” Parzy was also cited for third offense Operating After Revocation and taken to the Dodge County Jail on a probation hold. Parzy’s first three OWI’s came in September of 1989 and he had two other convictions in 1993 and 2009.

Randolph Man Gets Sixth OWI Following Family Scuffle

3/13/12 - A Randolph man appeared in Dodge County court Monday for his sixth Operating While Intoxicated offense. Police were called to Fox Lake for a family disturbance involving 51-year-old Jody Larson Friday night and he was apprehended a short time later near Randolph. Larson reportedly had a blood alcohol level over three times the legal limit for driving at point-two-four-six (.246). If convicted, the felony charge carries a maximum six year prison sentence.

BDPD Investigating Series of Vandalism Reports

3/13/12 - Beaver Dam police fielded a series of weekend vandalism complaints. Most were reported Saturday morning. A bowling ball was thrown through the window of a home on Grove Street. Windows were also broken at a home on Liberty and a car in the Rechek’s parking lot. A residence and a vehicle on Fourth Street were spray painted. On Sunday, the Parks Department reported that the windows at the city-owned building at Tahoe Park were shot out with a BB gun. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department.
BDOC Holds Public Hearing On Prospect Assessments

3/13/12 - City officials in Beaver Dam laid out their plans for the reconstruction of Prospect Avenue during a public hearing yesterday. The city of Beaver Dam is reconstructing Prospect at the same time the state is re-doing portions of Highway 151, including the bridge over Prospect. The city project involved Prospect from Keller Boulevard to Eilbes Avenue, which will also see new curb and gutter, driveway aprons, street lighting and concrete sidewalk where none currently exists. The actual street reconstruction will begin July 1 even though Prospect is now closed to all traffic between Jacob Gassen Way and Eilbes Avenue. It will be re-opened to local property owner no later than August 1, 2012. The state work on the bridge is expected to take longer. One affected homeowner asked a question last night but did not express any concerns. The Operations Committee will consider the resolution to levy special assessments at their next meeting before it heads to the full council for approval.

City’s Now Required To Have Pro Dam Inspections

3/13/12 - The Beaver Dam Operations Committee last night approved hiring Kunkel Engineering to inspect the dam. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says the DNR is now requiring municipalities with a high-hazard dam – like Beaver Dam, Mayville and Columbus – to have the dams professionally inspected by a structural engineer every two years. If approved by the council, Kunkel will be paid $1500 for the inspection. Stoiser says city officials would continue to inspect the dam every two months.

Dodge County Highway A Closed

3/13/12 - A portion of Highway A will be closed during the day for the next week to 10-days. Dodge County Highway Commissioner Brian Field says in preparation for work this summer crews are taking down trees along a stretch of the highway. He says Highway A between Highway 26 and County Highway A is closed during the daylight hours and will reopen at night. Field says once the trees are removed the highway will be open until they start the reconstruction in late April or early May.

Record Breaking Walleye Caught By Wisconsin Man

3/13/12 - A southern Wisconsin man has apparently broken a fishing record in Illinois that lasted only two months. The Chicago Sun-Times said Jim Zimmerman caught a walleye weighing just under 15-point-one pounds in the Pecatonica River at Pecatonica Illinois. Assuming it’s verified, Zimmerman broke the old record of 14 pounds and 12 ounces. That walleye was caught by Rockford Illinois High School student Nick Tassoni from the Pecatonica River in January. Fishing tournament organizer Dan Palmer witnessed the weigh-in of Zimmerman’s fish Sunday at a meat market in South Beloit, Illinois. Palmer said Zimmerman fishes more than anyone he knows – and he has fished 12 hours a day for two months on the Pecatonica and Rock rivers.