Top Stories April 12th

Foreclosures on the Rise

4/12/12 - Home foreclosures will be on the rise later this year, after the numbers of first-time notices went up nationally for three straight months. In Wisconsin, the firm of Realty-Trac said one-of-every-578 households received foreclosure notices in March. That’s the ninth-highest rate in the country. The rate is actually higher in Dodge County, where one-of-every-435 households received foreclosure notices last month. Columbia County was at one in 378, while Jefferson County was at one in 517. Fond du Lac County had the area’s lowest rate at one in 1,331. Wisconsin’s total foreclosure cases have gone up-and-down in recent months compared to 2011. But nationally, banks have just become more aggressive in pursuing cases that have been in limbo for months or even years. That was after the nation’s largest lenders reached a 25-billion-dollar legal settlement of lawsuits by Wisconsin and other states which alleged deceptive lending practices. Realty-Trac says many homes which are now entering the foreclosure process have loans which have gone unpaid for a long time. And there are not as many cases in which borrowers had just started to get behind. Arizona has the nation’s highest ratio of homes in foreclosure. About one-of-every-300 properties received notices last month.

Woman Hurt in Town of Lomira Accident

4/12/12 - A 23-year-old woman was involved in an accident that left her car about 40-feet off the road in the town of Lomira early this morning. According to the Sheriff’s Department, a passerby reported finding the vehicle around 3:30 a.m. near County Trunk A-Y and Center Drive. Authorities made contact with the woman, who had walked to a nearby house before getting a ride to the emergency room at Beaver Dam Community Hospital.

Two Vehicle Accident Sends One to the Hospital

4/12/12 - A two-vehicle accident just east of Beaver Dam sent one person to the hospital late yesterday afternoon. It happened around 5pm on Prairie View Road near County Trunk E. Beaver Dam Fire and EMS responded and took one person to Beaver Dam Community Hospital.

Man Nabbed for Using Sheriff’s Badge to Get Drugs

4/12/12 - The Arizona Sheriff’s badge a 54-year-old North Fond du Lac man tried to pass off while posing as a U.S. Marshal didn’t fool officials at Aurora Health Center in Fond du Lac Tuesday. Richard Szczepanski told them he was on assignment, but needed a prescription filled for Oxycodone and Morphine. Police arrested him and found a gun in his car. It turns out it was the third time this month the police wannabe tried posing as a law enforcement officer. He’s been charged and is being held on a $10,000 cash bond.

Deputy and Two Citizen’s Save Woman

4/12/12 - Credit goes to a state trooper and two motorists from Berlin and Fond du Lac for saving the life of a 35-year-old Fond du Lac woman who tried to commit suicide first by driving the wrong way on Highway 41 and then trying to leap from an overpass onto the highway. Sergeant Jeff Nelson says he drove in reverse to catch up with the woman near Fond du Lac and pulled her over. But while Nelson was getting a dashboard camera to tape a field sobriety test the woman got out of her minivan and ran towards the overpass planning to jump from it. Nelson was able to grab her and with the help of two motorists held her until an ambulance arrived. The incident happened Tuesday afternoon.

Leading Candidates for Governor Spar Over Collective Bargaining

4/12/12 - Two Democratic candidates for governor sparred last night over the way they would try to restore collective bargaining for public unions. At a forum in Madison, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk defended her promise to veto the entire state budget next year if it doesn’t restore union bargaining. But Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said it would only continue Scott Walker’s cuts to schools and local governments indefinitely, while Falk wrangles with lawmakers. That’s because the previous year’s budget legally stays in place for as long as it takes to agree to a new one. Barrett said quote, “If we want to have a permanent Scott Walker budget, that’s what we would be doing … we can’t play into (Republicans’) hands.” But Falk says her plan would be more effective than Barrett’s in restoring union rights. Barrett said he would call a special session to push the issue. The other two Democratic candidates – Secretary-of-State Doug La Follette and Alma Senator Kathleen Vinehout – said they would both start talking to the unions immediately after they take office to hear their concerns. Dane County Democrats sponsored last night’s forum.

GOP Senate Candidates Hold Forum in Waukesha County

4/12/12 - Four Republican U-S Senate candidates tried to distinguish themselves last night at a forum in Waukesha. Former congressman Mark Neumann said he wanted to do away with federal tax credits and get government quote, “out of the business of picking winners and losers.” State Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald said he would take as many of Governor Walker’s accomplishments to Washington as he could – and he would push for a national “right to work law” that does not require new private sector employees to pay union dues. Hedge fund manager Eric Hovde continued to slam what he called “career politicians” – and he called for a balanced federal budget and a withdrawal from Afghanistan as soon as possible. Rhinelander physical therapist Kip Smith said he would find ways to cut health costs, repeal the Democrats’ health reform law, and reduce the level of government. Former Governor Tommy Thompson did not attend last night’s forum. It conflicted with a campaign fund-raiser in Minneapolis – but he promised to attend future forums and debates. The G-O-P Senate primary is just over four months away on August 14th.

Where Have the Booms Gone?

4/12/12 - The booms seem to have gone bust in Clintonville. City Administrator Lisa Kuss says there has only been a handful of complaints recently, after more than a week of loud thunderous sounds and homes shaking. An earthquake with a magnitude of one-point-five was recorded on March 20th in Clintonville. The community received its own seismometers a few days later – but the only thing they’ve recorded was a point-one shake-up on March 30th. John Bellini of the U-S Geological Survey says he has compared the data with what residents had complained about – and he’s not finding a lot of differences. He says the booms appeared to be a swarm of small earthquakes, which can be sporadic. And Bellini says those tremors are not unusual throughout the country.

Putting Grass Clippings Onto Public Streets is an Ordinance Violation

4/12/12 - The City of Beaver Dam Stormwater Utility is reminding residents and contractors that it is a violation of city ordinance to discharge grass clippings onto public streets. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says the Department of Natural Resources mandates clean gutters because leaves and grass clippings contribute to the degradation of waterways and ultimately the lake. As the lawn debris decomposes, it affects water quality and also clogging storm pipes which leads to flooding. When mowing near the roadway, Stoiser says you should direct the chute of the mower away from the road, containing clippings on the lawn. If clippings accidentally end up in the gutter, Stoiser says they should be swept up and disposed of. The city will hand out warning letters for the first offense; citations will be given to repeat offenders. Yard waste can be brought to the Department of Public Works during business hours, Monday through Friday 7am to 3:30pm and now on Saturdays 10am to 2pm.

Powerball at $113M

4/12/12 - The Powerball jackpot is above 100-million-dollars for the first time in two months. It’s at 113-million for the next drawing on Saturday night, after nobody won the top prize last night. Nobody from Wisconsin won the million-dollar second prize. One player from the state won 10-thousand-dollars by matching four regular numbers plus the Powerball. Over 96-hundred Wisconsin players won smaller prizes. Last night’s numbers were 16, 23, 42, 44, and 47. The Powerball was two. The jackpot has been building since February 11th, when a 325-million-dollar prize was won. Saturday’s cash option is just over 68-million dollars. The Mega Millions’ jackpot is at 42-million for tomorrow night.