Top Stories, April 18th

Teens Apprehended In $500K Warehouse Vandalism

4/18/12 - Beaver Dam police apprehended three juveniles accused of causing a half-million-dollars worth of damage to a storage warehouse owned by Kraft Foods. Police Detective Ryan Klavekoske says officers responded to a burglary report Monday morning around 7am at a warehouse located on West South Street. The warehouse was stocked with food processing equipment, computers and office records and they were spray painted and coated with diesel fuel. Evidence collected at the scene led investigators to a local business where they were able to obtain information on the clothing the suspects may have worn. A basic description of the suspects was assembled and an officer on routine patrol located a juvenile matching the description by 5pm Monday night. Klavekoske says talks with that suspect led to the apprehension of the other two juveniles. All three later admitted their involvement. The trio was released to the custody of their parents but charges of Criminal Damage to Property, Criminal Trespass and Burglary have been referred to Dodge County Human Services. Klavekoske says the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are possible.

Hartford Man Dies In Washington County Huber Dorm

4/18/12 - A Hartford man died in the Washington County Jail on Tuesday. Authorities say corrections officers found 54-year-old Greg Hafeman having a seizure in a Huber Dormitory of the jail just after midnight. Shortly after the man was located he went unconscious, stopped breathing and had no pulse. Correctional Staff immediately began CPR and began using a defibrillator. West Bend Fire Department Paramedics responded and attempted life saving efforts but they were also unsuccessful. Hafeman was pronounced dead by the Washington County Medical Examiner. An autopsy later showed that he died of natural causes related to a heart condition.

New Chairman For Beaver Dam Operations Committee

4/18/12 - The city of Beaver Dam has a new chairman for one of its two main standing committees. At last night’s organization meeting, Alderman Glen Link was named to replace Laine Meyer as the chair of the Operations Committee. Meyer will take Link’s seat on the Plan Commission. Alderwoman Donna Maly was also moved to the Operations Committee. The new members of the Administrative Committee are Rob Radig and Teresa Hiles-Olson. Casey Carney resigned from the Police and Fire Commission and was replaced with former city alderman Ron Andrews. Jon Litscher was unanimously re-elected as Council President. There are no new faces on the Beaver Dam Council this term as all incumbents were re-elected without opposition.

Kottke Withstands Challenge From Maly

4/18/12 - Russ Kottke was re-elected yesterday as Dodge County Board Chairman. Kottke, who has served as chairman since 2004, received 19-votes, while Donna Maly of Beaver Dam got 13-votes. Supervisor David Frohling was also reappointed as 1st Vice Chairman beating out Maly by getting 26 of the 33 votes. District 11 Supervisor Ernest Borchardt was named 2nd Vice President by unanimous vote. After four rounds of voting, Mary Ann Miller, Larry Bischoff, Harold Johnson and Aaron David were named to the executive committee. The other major committee elected by the board, the Highway Committee, saw Johnson, Chet Caine, Randy Grebel, and Jeff Schmidt selected. The elections came as part of the boards reorganizational meeting. Five new and 28 returning supervisors took their oath of office as the board met for the first time since reducing its numbers from 37 to 33.

Juneau Reorganizational Meeting

4/18/12 - There is a new council president in Juneau after former council president Robert “Mac” Affeld lost his bid for mayor this month and also failed to retain his aldermanic seat. Senior alderman Jason Buske was named council president and replaces Affeld as chair the Personnel and Finance committees. Kendra Hayden, who defeated Affeld by three votes with a successful write-in campaign, will chair the Recreation Committee. Michael Breitweiser replaces Buske as chair of the Public Works Committee. Mark Lentz and Roxanne Buss were re-appointed as council representatives on the Utility Commission; it will be the first full term of the newly restructured commission.

Portage Installing River Gauge

4/18/12 - City of Portage residents will soon get more advanced notice of potential flooding on the Wisconsin River. That’s because the National Weather Service has provided a grant, so the city can install a new automated gauge that measures the height of the river. The Wisconsin River occasionally rises as the result of the normal spring snow-melt, plus heavy rains both in the Portage area and upstream. A previous gauge was not replaced when a bridge on Highway 33 received a new deck last year. Portage Mayor Ken Jahn says the new gauge will provide much better flood information for his community. Data from the new unit will be posted by the Weather Service on-line.

Hilker Running For Fifth Term As Treasurer

4/18/12 - Patti Hilker has announced her intention to run for her fifth term as Dodge County Treasurer. Hilker was first elected to the position in 2002. Before becoming County Treasurer, Hilker worked in municipal government for twenty years. Seven of those years were as the full-time Clerk-Treasurer for the Village of Theresa. Hilker is a lifelong resident of Dodge County and currently resides in the Town of Leroy. She is currently the Treasurer of the Leroy Sanitary District and Treasurer of the Leroy/Kekoskee Joint Wastewater District. Hilker is running as a Republican in the November 6 General Election.

BD Suspect Arraigned In Drunken Chase

4/18/12 - A Columbia County judge recently found probable cause for a Beaver Dam man to proceed to trial on charges that he sparked a drunken high speed chase. Jonathan Gorr then entered a “not guilty” plea at a subsequent arraignment hearing. The incident started on the afternoon of December 21 when deputies responded to reports of an intoxicated driver in the city of Portage. The 33-year-old was reportedly observed traveling east on Highway 33 near Cambria. His vehicle then turned down some town roads at a high rate of speed, sparking a seven mile pursuit that reached close to 80mph. Road spikes were deployed just off State Highway 44, north of Pardeeville. Gorr was taken into custody without further incident. Gorr is charged with Sixth Offense Operating While Intoxicated, Possession of THC and drug paraphernalia and a variety of traffic violations. He is being held on a $2500 cash bond. A jury trial is planned but a date has not yet been set.

Green Bay Packers 2012 Schedule

Pre-season

Thursday, Aug. 9 – at San Diego – 7 p.m., ESPN

Thursday, Aug. 16 – Cleveland – 7 p.m., State network (Milwaukee tickets)

Thursday, Aug. 23 – at Cincinnati – 6 p.m., State network

Thursday, Aug. 30 – Kansas City – 6 p.m., State network

Regular season

Sunday, Sept. 9 – San Francisco – 3:15 p.m., Fox

Thursday, Sept. 13 – Chicago – 7:20 p.m., NFL Network (Milwaukee tickets)

Monday, Sept. 24 – at Seattle, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Sunday, Sept. 30 – New Orleans, 3:15 p.m., Fox

Sunday, Oct. 7 – at Indianapolis – Noon, Fox

Sunday, Oct. 14 – at Houston – 7:20 p.m., NBC

Sunday, Oct. 21 – at St. Louis – Noon, Fox

Sunday, Oct. 28 – Jacksonville – Noon, CBS

Sunday, Nov. 4 – Arizona – Noon, Fox (Milwaukee tickets)

Sunday, Nov. 11 – Bye

Sunday, Nov. 18 – at Detroit – Noon, Fox

Sunday, Nov. 25 – at New York Giants – 7:20 p.m., NBC

Sunday, Dec. 2 – Minnesota – Noon, Fox

Sunday, Dec. 9 – Detroit – 7:20 p.m., NBC

Sunday, Dec. 16 – at Chicago – Noon, Fox

Sunday, Dec. 23 – Tennessee – Noon, CBS

Sunday, Dec. 30 – at Minnesota – Noon, Fox

NOTE: After the bye, start times and networks may change due to NFL flexible scheduling.