Top Stories April 5th

BDUSD School Board Takes Shape

4/5/12 - There was no indication before Election Day that there would be a contested race on the Beaver Dam School Board but it turned out that way. There was one declared write-in candidate and one non-declared candidate who also mounted a campaign for the third open seat on the board. According to preliminary numbers provided by the district, declared write-in candidate John Kraus Jr. garnered the most votes, 923. Retired seventh grade social studies teacher Mark Schweitzer received 333 votes. There were 101 other write-in votes cast for a variety of individuals. The results will not become officials until the board of canvassers meets next Monday.

GOP Puts Up “Protest Candidates”

4/5/12 - Democrats running in the recall elections will face some opposition before taking on the intended recall targets. The state GOP has lined up six “fake” Democrats to force primaries next month. That includes Gary Ellerman of Lake Mills, who will appear on the ballot with Lori Compas in the 13th Senate District. Compas is the woman who organized the recall effort against Senator Scott Fitzgerald. GOP officials say running the so-called “protest candidates” will guarantee a clear primary date and ensure no Republicans will face general election on the same day that big numbers of Democrats are expected at the polls to elect their challenger to Governor Scott Walker. It’s likely the primary will be on May 8th with the general election on June 5th.

Columbus-Area Write-In Supervisor Identified

4/5/12 - There is an unofficial winner for a Columbus-area seat on the Columbia County Board. Brad Basten entered the race for County Supervisor when he became aware of the lack of representation for city residents on the Columbia County Board. District 21 is right in the center of the city. Former Supervisor, Gerald Salzwedel had stepped down from the position in 2011. Basten tallied 165 write-in votes to outpoll City Administrator Boyd Kraemer. Kraemer received 21 votes. Kraemer had offered his name as a write-in candidate when he found that there was no name on the ballot to represent the city residents in the district. Basten mounted a campaign distributing flyers to his neighbors. Basten is a 13-year Columbus resident who works as a manufacturing engineer. Basten will assume office later this month after the ballots are certified by county election officials.

Democrats Backing Off Gubernatorial Recall Challenge

4/5/12 - Three Democrats who thought about running for governor in the Walker recall election gave their support Wednesday to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. State Senators Tim Cullen of Janesville and Jon Erpenbach of Middleton joined La Crosse Congressman Ron Kind in endorsing Barrett – who announced his gubernatorial bid last Friday and won four more years as Milwaukee’s mayor on Tuesday. During a news conference, Barrett lashed out at Republican Scott Walker, who defeated Barrett by five points in the last election for governor in 2010. Barrett said Walker started a civil war throughout the state last year with his proposal to virtually end collective bargaining for most public unions. And Barrett promised he would unite Wisconsinites again. Three other Democrats are also running with Barrett in a May eighth primary – and Barrett said the biggest mistake they can make is to attack each other.

Lautenschlager on School Board Loss

4/5/12 - Former State Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager says the OWI she received in Dodge County in 2004 played a factor in her failed bid to get onto the Fond du Lac School Board Tuesday. Lautenschlager finished third in a four-person race for two seats on the board. She says her conviction is something voters still have issue with.

Bidlack Pleads Out In Town of Portland Situation

4/5/12 - A Lake Mills man who broke into a pole shed only to be ambushed by the intended victims has entered into a plea deal with prosecutors. Joseph Bidlack pleaded “no contest” to a felony charge of Burglary and had a second felony dismissed but read into the record. According to the criminal complaint, the would-be victims renting the pole shed in the Town of Portland got word from a friend that Bidlack was planning on breaking into the shed and stealing vehicle parts. Three men were waiting inside the shed last July when the 20-year-old Bidlack cut the lock on the shed and entered. Bidlack sustained injuries in the ensuing melee and accused his attackers of using a baseball bat. The victims deny using the bat and say they acted in self-defense. Bidlack was ordered to spend 18 months in prison, but that sentence will run concurrent to another 18-month sentence stemming from a Jefferson County burglary conviction. He must also serve two years on extended supervision.

BD Bulk Garbage Truck Moving

4/5/12 - After this month, Beaver Dam residents will no longer be able drop-off bulk garbage at the Public Works garage. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says the city is moving the bulk truck site from the DPW garage to the Wastewater Treatment Facility grounds located off Cooper Street on Myrtle Road at Beltline Drive. Representatives with Veolia will be handing out flyers at the garage during the final pick-up of the month on Saturday April 21. The drop-off dates will remain the same; the bulk waste truck will still be available on the first Wednesday of the month from 4pm to 7pm and the third Saturday of the month from 8am until noon. Stoiser says he believes the new site will be much more convenient for users.

BD DPW Saturday Seasonal Garage Hours Starting

4/5/12 - The Beaver Dam Public Works Garage will be open on Saturdays beginning this weekend. Yard waste can be dropped off at the garage at 640 South Center Street from 10am to 2pm Saturdays. No waste of any kind will be accepted from contractors or from people who are not Beaver Dam residents. Saturday hours will be suspended in late fall. Weekday hours of operation have not changed and the public works garage remains open 7am to 3:30pm. The drop-off site also accepts grass clippings, leaves, garden vines, flowers, straw, hay, pine needles, brush and tree limbs seven-inches or less in thickness and hedge or shrubbery cuttings. No fruits, vegetables, garbage or building materials are accepted. The DPW garage does accept used engine oil and certain types of rough metals, again from city residents only.