Top Stories May 30th

DPI Issues Report on Seclusion Room in WASD

5/30/12 - The Waupun School District has been ordered by the State Department of Public Instruction to stop using their controversial “seclusion room” at Rock River Intermediate until corrective actions have been taken.  The district came under scrutiny earlier this month after a parent complained that the room was used to punish her autistic child. By law, seclusion rooms can be used to diffuse a violent outburst. Mandy Rennhack had asked special education teachers last fall to stop placing her ten-year-old son into the 5-by-7-foot padded plywood box when he was having discipline issues – and said she’d pick him up from school instead. Rennhack was furious when she learned that the box was used again in March. The district requested the state inspection, which took place on May 17. According to Stephanie Petska, the DPI’s Special Education Director, says the school’s use of the seclusion room was not consistent with the department’s directives. The report completed May 23 and obtained by WBEV yesterday says seclusion rooms are meant to maintain safety and (quote) “may only be used as a last resort when a student’s behavior presents a clear and imminent risk to the physical safety of the student or others.” The report says it “must not be connected to serving a ‘time-out’ or any other type of discipline.” The corrective actions the district was ordered to perform include proper ventilation, removal of the door lock and the installation of a large window or round unbreakable mirror. The report also calls for staff to be trained on appropriate uses of a seclusion room. Superintendent Don Childs did not immediately return our phone calls but told us last week before the report was issued that the seclusion room would not be closed for the rest of the school year. He also outlined changes the district was voluntarily taking, some of which are not required, including the installation of floor covering over the concrete tiles. The report did note appreciation for the district’s responsiveness and willingness to work with department staff.

Girl Struck By Arrow is Back Home

5/30/12 - A seven-year-old Fond du Lac County girl is home from the hospital, after she was hit in the back by an arrow while playing with her friends. Aryanna Schneeberg was shot on May 21st outside her home in Campbellsport. She had the arrow removed during a procedure at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital. Fond du Lac County Sheriff Mick Fink spoke with the youngster Tuesday to get her side of the story. Her mother, Laura Schneeberg, said investigators continue to follow a number of leads. But no one has been arrested yet.

Registry for Vacant Building in BD a Possibility

5/30/12 - City officials in Beaver Dam are hoping to establish a registry for vacant buildings. The ordinance would cover all non-residential structures, primary commercial, manufacturing and industrial buildings. Mayor Tom Kennedy says there have been dozens of reasons over the years to assemble such a list, many stemming from the 2008 floods. Some buildings had standing water in basements for months, breeding mold and unpleasant odors. In one instance, a homeless person had been discovered living in the balcony of a flood-ravaged building. Under the proposed ordinance, owners of vacant buildings would have 30 days to register with the city. The proposed ordinance passed through the city’s Plan Commission and is headed to the Operations Committee before consideration by the full council.

Walker Raises $6M and Barrett $3.5M According to Latest Figures

5/30/12 - Governor Scott Walker’s campaign raised almost six-million-dollars in a four-week period ending May 21st. And his Democratic challenger Tom Barrett raised almost three-and-a-half million. With Walker’s recall election just six days away, finance reports filed yesterday show that both campaigns had about the same amounts on hand, around one-and-a-half million dollars. But daily reports of large contributions showed that the Republican Walker had raised an additional 860-thousand between last Wednesday and Sunday. And Barrett received an additional 261-thousand. As a recall target, Walker was able to raise unlimited amounts to cover debts incurred before the election was officially scheduled. And his new report shows that Walker continues to bring individual donations of up to 100-thousand-dollars – well above the normal 10-thousand limit that Barrett must follow under normal election laws. Barrett spokesman Phil Walzak says their campaign is getting tremendous grass-roots support. Walker has now raised a record-shattering 31-million dollars since January of 2011. Ciara Matthews of the Walker camp says it reflects people’s enthusiasm for the governor’s budget changes that included the near-elimination of collective bargaining for most public unions. That’s the issue which spurred the recall effort in the first place.

Walker Won’t Pardon Former Aides Involved in John Doe

5/30/12 - Governor Scott Walker said Tuesday he would not pardon any of his former Milwaukee County aides who are convicted in the ongoing John Doe probe. Tom Barrett, the Democratic challenger in next Tuesday’s Walker recall election, had questioned earlier whether the governor would pardon any of his former aides. But the Republican Walker said he mentioned before that he’d never do that – and he said Barrett knows it. Walker accused Barrett of quote, “trying desperately to talk about anything except the success of our reforms.” Walker said he’s responsible for a billion-dollars in state-and-local government savings, plus the creation of over 30-thousand jobs. Walker also said Barrett – the Milwaukee mayor – is trying to divert attention away from Barrett’s record in the city. Former Walker aide Darlene Wink struck a plea bargain, and was convicted of a minor charge in exchange for information to prosecutors. Four other Walker aides and associates – including Kelly Rindfleisch of Columbus –

remain charged in the John Doe, which involves Walker’s years as the Milwaukee County executive. The charges include embezzlement and campaigning on taxpayers’ time.

Man Charged with Stealing Scrap Metal

5/30/12 - A West Allis man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of scrap metal and other equipment from a Town of Ashippun shed. Joseph Mazzone is charged with felony Burglary and misdemeanor Attempted Theft, which carries a maximum prison sentence of nearly 13 years, if he is convicted. According to the criminal complaint, Mazzone is friends with a family renting a house on the property in question and was reportedly caught red-handed by the property owner. The victim removed the keys from a vehicle Mazzone was using to keep him from fleeing the scene. The 22-year-old nonetheless took off on foot. Mazzone is accused of stealing an electric generator, a boat anchor, lawn mower, aluminum rims and assorted scrap metals. The tenant was apparently not aware the items were being stolen, even though Mazzone – who is friends with her son – was using her car. Mazzone had a signature bond set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled next month.

Preventing Drug Abuse Near the Top of BD Elks Lodge Agenda

5/30/12 - Rob Radig with the Beaver Dam Elks Lodge says his group wants to be interactive in the community and get people involved in preventing drug abuse. Radig was recently re-elected as a State Officer and also received a commendation award for work he has done on the state Committee on Drug Awareness.  Radig, a Beaver Dam alderman and past Exalted Ruler of the local lodge, coordinates the three drug awareness trailers available by the Elks for statewide use. The trailers are stocked with information on the dangers and warning signs for all types of drugs, along with other positive activities that promote a healthy lifestyle.

More information is available at www.elks.org.

Meetings on New Wolf Hunting Season to be Held

5/30/12 - Four meetings will be held next month, to give Wisconsinites a say on the new wolf hunting-and-trapping season. Earlier this year, lawmakers and the governor approved a season that runs from October 15th through the end of February. The Natural Resources Board must still approve the finer details – like the number of hunting-and-trapping permits to be issued, and harvest quotas in various parts of the state. The public meetings will start at 6 p-m on four dates in June – on the sixth at Spooner High School, June eighth at Black River Falls Middle School, June 14th at the U-W Fond du Lac auditorium, and June 15th in Rhinelander at James Williams Middle School. The D-N-R Board plans to vote on the final wolf hunt details at its July 17th meeting in Stevens Point.

Compas, Virgil on Community Comment Today

5/30/12 - On WBEV’s Community Comment this afternoon we begin a two-day look at the recall election in the 13^th State Senate District. Democrat Lori Compas of Fort Atkinson will join us at 12:35pm to discuss her efforts to unseat longtime Republic incumbent Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau. In our second segment today, our guest will be Libertarian recall candidate Terry Virgil. Tomorrow, Senate Leader Fitzgerald will be our guest at 12:35pm.

Top Stories May 29th

Memorial Day Celebrated in Beaver Dam

5/29/12 - Hundreds lined the streets of Beaver Dam yesterday as the Memorial Day Parade made it’s way through the downtown.  Veterans, local marching bands along with police and fire personnel were among the participants and it all led to the Veteran’s Memorial at Oakwood Cemetery.  It was there that the men and woman who have lost their lives fighting for our country and those that are still fighting were honored with a ceremony, that included patriotic songs played by the Beaver Dam High School Band, a flyover and speeches. The featured speaker was Staff Sergeant Christopher Ackley, who just got back from a second deployment overseas.  He said while many consider Memorial Day just another day, he says it makes him think of all the veteran’s that came before him and those that will come after him.  

 

Severe Weather Hits Southern Wisconsin

5/29/12 – A funnel cloud was spotted late yesterday east of Oregon in Dane County. It highlighted another day of severe weather which hit various parts of Wisconsin throughout the Memorial Day Weekend. Four cars were destroyed by fallen trees in Wisconsin Dells yesterday. Winds hit 72-miles-an-hour near Montello in Marquette County, which took down tree branches and barn shingles. There were reports of hail throughout south central and southeast Wisconsin, as well as the far north. Tennis-ball-sized hail fell just outside Montello.  Much of the severe weather missed Beaver Dam but the southern and eastern portions of Dodge County did see strong winds.  Gusts of 46-miles-per hour were reported at the airport in Watertown and 50-miles-per-hour in Oconomowoc.  Trees and branches were also down in Green and Jefferson counties, and a tree fell onto a house in Waukesha. The storms left Wisconsin last night and headed east. And it left us with cooler air during the night with lows between 50-and-60. After a mild day today, temperatures may not get out of the 60’s anywhere in Wisconsin until Saturday.

Man Found in Lake Winnebago Identified

5/29/12 – Calumet County Sheriff's officials say a 56-year-old Franklin, Wisconsin man whose body was recovered floating in Lake Winnebago last Friday afternoon died from drowning. An autopsy on Anthony Albanese determined drowning as the cause of death. A fisherman found Albanese floating in the water. Fond du Lac County Sheriff's deputies recovered the body about three miles west of Brothertown and turned it over to Calumet County Sheriff's official. The autopsy was performed at the Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner's Office Saturday. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)

Holiday Can’t Stop Early Voters

5/29/12 – Recall fever never seems to take a holiday in Wisconsin anymore. In Milwaukee, hundreds of people spent part of their Memorial Day waiting in line to cast absentee ballots in advance of next Tuesday's recall elections. Some voters said they wanted to avoid the crowds and the partisan activity near the polls. Others said they wanted to get their own voting out of the way, so they could help others get to the polls. There are relatively few undecided voters, so both parties say this election's about identifying their supporters and getting them to vote next Tuesday. The A-P said it interviewed supporters for both Governor Scott Walker and his Democratic recall challenger Tom Barrett. Early voting took place yesterday in Madison as well as Milwaukee. It ends on Friday statewide. Meanwhile, both candidates for governor kept their campaigning to a minimum on Memorial Day. The Republican Walker appeared at a suburban Milwaukee cemetery, and at an Armed Forces Reserve center in Madison. Barrett appeared at a holiday parade in Beloit, where his wife Kris is from. Barrett had also planned to stop at Madison's Brat Fest.

Four Senate Recall Elections Could Change Balance of Power

5/29/12 – Wisconsinites are focused on Governor Scott Walker’s recall election. But relatively little statewide publicity has been given lately to the four state Senate contests next Tuesday – and how they could affect the balance of power in the Legislature. The impact will not be noticed right away, because lawmakers won’t go back into session until two months after November’s scheduled elections. But the Joint Finance Committee can still make decisions without the full Legislature’s approval. And if Democrats can win just one of next Tuesday’s four contests, they could gain a little edge by taking over the Senate majority. If nothing else, Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald tells Politico-Dot-Com that next Tuesday could either create momentum for his party in November or quote, “stymie our ability to make the case that we’re going to roll right into November and add to our majority.” Fitzgerald, of Juneau, faces a recall challenge from Democrat Lori Compas of Fort Atkinson. In the Racine area, Republican Van Wanggaard will run against the incumbent he defeated in 2010, Democrat John Lehman. In the Eau Claire region, Republican Terry Moulton faces former Assembly Democrat Kristen Dexter. And in north central Wisconsin, Assembly Republican Jerry Petrowski faces Assembly Democrat Donna Seidel for Galloway’s former Senate seat.

Memorial Day Celebrated Throughout Wisconsin

5/29/12 – Thousands of Wisconsinites took time out yesterday to remember the nation’s fallen military heroes. Mostly dry-and-muggy weather marked numerous Memorial Day parades and ceremonies throughout the Badger State. At Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee, re-enactors from various wars told personal stories of some of the 37-thousand-plus veterans buried there. Governor Scott Walker received a warm welcome when he spoke at the Milwaukee ceremony – and he stayed for over a half-hour afterward to shake people’s hands and pose for pictures. Later, at Madison’s Armed Forces Reserve Center, the governor paid tribute to Wisconsin military personnel killed over the last year – as well as the 33-thousand state residents now serving. Walker’s opponent in next Tuesday’s recall election, Tom Barrett, marched in the Memorial Day Parade in Beloit. That’s where his wife Kris is from.

Two Charged For Allegedly Stealing From FDL Stores

5/29/12 – Two people are facing charges for allegedly stealing nearly $1,400 in items from Wal-Mart and Target Stores in Fond du Lac. Police arrested 26-year-old Megan Forbes of Randolph and 29-year-old Matthew Hill of Madison in the parking lot of the Fond du Lac Wal-Mart last Thursday. The two were near a vehicle with a flat tire. A large quantity of merchandise was in the vehicle. Both made initial appearances in Fond du Lac County Court last Friday morning. They were charged and cash bonds were set, $300 for Forbes and $200 for Hill. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)

EMS Contract Up for Discussion in Waupun

5/29/12 – The Waupun Common Council will hold a special meeting at the Waupun Public Utilities at 5:30 p.m. during which the Council could select a new ambulance provider for the City. For 33 years Brooks Ambulance served the City, but failed to meet state standards during an inspection last month. Paratech Ambulance Service of Milwaukee and Lifestar Emergency Medical Services of West Bend were expected to submit bids for an annual contract with the City. Lifestar has served Waupun in the interim basis. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)

BDACT Looking for “Rapping Granny”

5/29/12 – The Beaver Dam Area Community Theater is looking for a “rapping granny.” Their big summer show is “The Wedding Singer” a musical based on the hit Adam Sandler-Drew Barrymore romantic comedy. One of the more memorable funny moments in the movie comes courtesy of Rosie, the hip grandmother of Sandler’s ‘Robbie’ who bust’s mad freestyle hip-hop rhymes on the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight.”  The production crew is also casting for Robbie’s evil, on-again-off-again fiancée Linda who left poor Robbie at the alter and also tried to steal his VanHalen shirt.  In addition to those two speaking roles, there is room for more singers and dancers for the ensemble. A third night of auditions has been added tomorrow from 6:30pm to 9pm at the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater building on North Spring Street.  It’s also not too late to pitch a show for next year. Those interested are invited to attend a production meeting that will also be held tomorrow at the theater building, in the offices, also starting at 6:30 pm. The Beaver Dam Area Community Theater has four main stage shows throughout the year, including a holiday show, and a variety of small stage productions.

New Lottery Millionaire

5/29/12 – It’s day is the first day that Wisconsin's latest million-dollar lottery winner can cash in. A Mega Millions' ticket sold in Wausau on Friday night matched five regular numbers with the Megaplier to win a million-dollars. The ticket-holder has six months to claim the prize at the Wisconsin Lottery office in Madison -- and today's the first day the office will be open since Friday's drawing. The winning ticket was sold at the Fast Break Mobil station in Wausau. It's Wisconsin's third million-dollar lottery winner this month. A Chilton woman won a million-dollars and Milwaukee man won two-million, both in the May 16th Powerball game. The next Mega Millions' drawing is tonight, and the jackpot is 32-million dollars. The next Powerball drawing is tomorrow night, with a jackpot of 146-million with a cash option of around 95-million.

Top Stories May 28th

Memorial Day 2012

5/28/12 - It’s Memorial Day and that means a day full remembering and honoring those that died protecting our freedom as part of our armed forces.  There are events throughout the area today, and you can find a full list on our website wbevradio.com.  Here at WBEV, we’ll be broadcasting the Beaver Dam Memorial Day Ceremony live from Oakwood Cemetery starting at 10:15am. The speaker is Staff Sergeant Christopher Ackley, who is returning home to Beaver Dam after a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan.  Ackley joined the US Army Reserves in 2002 and is a combat medic with the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion in Green Bay.  He is a firefighter and EMT with the Beaver Dam Fire Department and also works part-time at the Beaver Dam Community Hospital. Prior to the ceremony there is a parade from downtown Beaver Dam to the cemetery and organizers are asking service organizations, bands, schools, churches, and others to enter a float or marching group. Parade entrants are asked to assemble in the West Tower Parking lot around 8am.  The parade will start at Front and Center Street and continue on to the Veterans Memorial at Oakwood Cemetery on Highway 33. The theme this year is “The Year of the Veteran 2012” and is meant to especially honor servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Along with the ceremony, we’ll be playing Jerry Stewart’s “Remember Me” at 9am, reading the names of the Beaver Dam men who have died in combat at 10am and patriotic music throughout the day. 

Body Found in Lake Winnebago

5/28/12 - A fisherman spotted a body floating in Lake Winnebago Friday afternoon.  The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s office says the caller provided GPS coordinates, leading deputies to the body about three miles west of Brotherton in Calumet County.  An empty vehicle and boat trailer had been sitting in a parking lot on the other side of the big lake for the last five days.  So far, no reports of a drifting boat have been made.  An autopsy on the body was done yesterday in Fond du Lac County.  Authorities haven’t released the victim’s name yet.

Driver Arrested After Crashing Through Fence

5/28/12 - A 30-year-old man was arrested early Saturday afternoon after crashing through the fence of a home in the town of Hubbard.  Authorities responded to a residence off Highway 33 after taking a report of a man losing control of his vehicle, driving onto a yard and through a fence, hitting a septic tank cover and continuing on.  Police were able to get the vehicle stopped and took Sylvester Allen into custody on suspicion of drunk driving.

Man Arrested on Suspicion of Choking

5/28/12 - Fond du Lac County authorities have a Manchester man in custody after he allegedly choked a St. Agnes Hospital employee last week.  37-year-old Ricky Martin had been arrested on prior charges and was detained at the hospital.  Officials say that on Wednesday, he was walking down a hallway with the hospital employee when he pulled her into a room, grabbed her by the neck and began choking and slamming her head on the ground.  The woman was nearly unconscious when the assault ended.  Martin is facing a variety of charges.

Heating Costs Lower this Year

5/28/12 - Heating costs for customers of We Energies were 24 percent lower last winter than the previous year.  The warmest winter on record helped consumers leave their furnaces turned off much of the time.  March temperatures were reported to be 43 percent warmer than normal.  Heating costs during the November through April period were a little over 500 dollars for the typical customer, about 157 dollars less than the winter before.  

Flooding Likely in Western Part of State

5/28/12 - Flooding is likely in some parts of Wisconsin today, with heavy rains falling on already saturated ground.  High winds yesterday afternoon knocked over a tractor-trailer truck in Trempealeau County.  The truck blocked a bridge, meaning State Road 93 between Eau Claire and La Crosse was closed Sunday afternoon for about two and a half hours.  The trucker suffered minor injuries, but he refused medical treatment.  Today’s flooding danger is highest in the western part of the state.  Today’s storms have the potential to include tornadoes.  Forecasters say our area’s best chance for strong storms will be later this afternoon. 

Parking Meter Text Notification

5/28/12 - The person sitting next to you, texting, may be communicating with his or her parking meter.  Starting next month, hundreds of meters in Milwaukee and Madison will be able to send text messages when the time is almost up for their parked car.  Those car owners will be able to add more time to the meter using credit cards.  The system is already being used in Lake Geneva.  There would be an extra fee to add time to a meter through a text message.  An official with the city of Milwaukee says it will be convenient for parkers and increase revenue for the city at the same time.

DNR Says Leave Fawns Alone

5/28/12 - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says if you find a fawn alone, please just leave it there.  Many people apparently think the fawns have been abandoned or orphaned and they try to feed them or take them home.  That can scare the mother away.  Does are starting to give birth to the first fawns of the year.  The DNR reminds you it is generally illegal to possess a live wild animal without a license or permit.  At the same time, the DNR is seeking volunteers to help in a research project centered on fawns.  Volunteers would capture, weigh, radio-collar or ear-tag fauns with researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Donald Driver a Wanted Commodity

5/28/12 - Catching footballs in the high pressure environment of the Super Bowl can get you a lot of attention, but apparently not as much as showing your moves on the dance floor for a television show.  The agent for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver says his client is in high demand since he emerged the winner on this year’s “Dancing with the Stars>”  Driver had played for the Packers since 1999, but he may be about to start a new career.  He has done work for Goodwill, Kwik Trip, McDonald’s and Nike in the past.  Agent Brian Lammi says Driver has an incredible story and is an outgoing, personable guy.  He says Driver is in a good position to add a few professional commitments.

Garbage Pickup Delayed

5/28/12 - Garbage pick-up will be delayed this week because of the Memorial Day weekend.  Waste collections by Veolia Environmental in Beaver Dam will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week.  Today’s (Mon) scheduled route will be collected tomorrow (Tues) and the pattern continues through Friday which is collected on Saturday. In addition, the Public Works Garage will be closed today (Mon).

Fairest of the Fair Deadline this Friday

5/28/12 - The application deadline for the “2012 Dodge County Fairest of the Fair” contest is this Friday. Fairest of the Fair Brianna Rhodes says they are looking for women – and men – who will be age 18 as of January 2013. Rhodes says the winner will represent the Fair Association in media and promotional events at the Dodge County Fair and other summer events.  The winner would also serve as the 2012 Fair Hostess and plan the 2013 competition. In addition, the Fairest will have the opportunity to participate in the 2012 Wisconsin Fairest of the Fairs contest. Rhodes says being Fairest has been an amazing opportunity that helped her decide who she wants to be as a person, and grow in the confidence that she can be that person. Applications information can be found on our website.

Contact Sally Schoenike, Dodge County 4-H Youth Development Agent at 920-386-3790. The application can also be found online at http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/dodge/4h (Click Dodge County Junior Fair and Fairest of the Fair Application under Registration Forms.)

Top Stories May 26th

Walker and Barrett Spar Over John Doe Investigation

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker says his opponent in the recall election keeps  bringing up the ongoing secret criminal probe because Tom Barrett wants to draw the attention away from his own record.  During last night’s recall election debate Barrett called again on Walker to release e-mails connected to the case and reveal who is funding the criminal defense fund the governor has established.  Walker said he has shown high levels of integrity his whole life and he will continue in that manner.  He repeated that he has been told by investigators he is not the focus of the case.  Last night’s debate was the first of two for the candidates in advance of the June 5^th recall election. 

Pictures of Your Ballot Are Against the Law

High-ranking Wisconsin politicians say they will remove photos of their completed ballots now that they have found those postings are against the law.  State Democratic Party chairman Mike Tate and St. Croix County Republican Party chairwoman Jesse Garza are not likely to be prosecuted.  Wisconsin elections officials are reminding everyone that posting photos of their completed ballots on social networking platforms like Facebook or Twitter violates the law.  That law prohibits voters from showing their completed voting form to anyone.  It’s set up to keep voters from taking money for voting for or against a candidate or issue, then showing their completed ballot to prove they voted the way they were supposed to vote.  

Semi Hits Boat on Highway 41

A 37-year-old Waukesha-area man was lucky to escape uninjured when the vehicle he was towing was hit by a semi yesterday afternoon. It happened on Highway 41 near Lomira.  Authorities say Steven Koepke was northbound, towing a boat with his suburban, when one of his tires blew out, causing the vehicle to veer to the left, go through the median and into the southbound lanes.  That’s where the boat was hit by the southbound semi.  Koepke and the driver of the semi, a 34-year-old Illinois man, were not injured.  The crash is still under investigation.   

Memorial Day Weekend Travel Expected to Increase

5/26/12 - The Triple-“A” expects about 680-thousand people to travel at least 50-miles or more one way during the Memorial Day weekend. That’s a slight three-tenths-of-a-percent increase from last Memorial Day. About 95-percent of those travelers will drive. The D-O-T said road construction projects could affect travel on Milwaukee’s Mitchell Interchange – I-94 in Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Eau Claire counties – I-43 in Ozaukee and Sheboygan counties – and Highway 41 in Winnebago and Brown counties. There are also lane closures on Highway 151 through Beaver Dam. Work on the Wisconsin River Bridge south of Portage in Columbia County has been suspended and all lanes are open. Seven people were killed in Wisconsin traffic accidents last Memorial Day Weekend – less than the average of nine deaths over the past five years. Police are once again stepping up their enforcement of seat belt laws as part of the annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign. The Dodge and Jefferson County Sheriffs departments and the Beaver Dam Police Department are among the agencies participating. “Click It or Ticket” is one of several traffic safety initiatives planned this summer, after traffic deaths rose from a year ago.

Driver Killed on I-94 in Jefferson County

5/26/12 - Traffic was backed up for over three miles on Interstate-94 near Oconomowoc Friday after a semi-truck carrying fertilizer overturned and its driver was killed. It happened around 10:20 a-m in the westbound lanes of the interstate in Jefferson County. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, a tire on the fertilizer truck blew out. The 68-year-old Fond du Lac man driving the truck lost control and overturned into the median.  Crews had to clean-up 35-hundred gallons of liquid fertilizer that spilled from the damaged truck.

Evans Gets Prison Time in Molestation Case

A Beaver Dam man who molested a preschool-age child was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison. Joseph R. Evans was charged felony First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 12 but in March pled to an amended charge of Physical Abuse of a Child. According to the criminal complaint, the victim was a friend of the family and Evans fondled her in March of 2011. The child came home and complained to her mother about Evans. When questioned by trained investigators, the child said the inappropriate contact had occurred (quote) “lots of times.”  The 23-year-old said the two had been wrestling and any inappropriate contact was accidental and outside the clothes. In addition to five years in prison, Evans was sentenced to two years of extended supervision and must register as a sex offender.  

Memorial Day Activities in Beaver Dam

5/26/12 - There will be a flyover at Monday’s Beaver Dam Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. Officials with the Memorial Day Committee say the civilian aircraft will fly along the parade route sometime between 9:30am and 9:45am and then make a second pass – about 400 feet above ground – during the ceremony at Oakwood Cemetery. The aircraft crew volunteers include Dale Wahl of Watertown, Tommy Cristea-Rist of Beaver Dam, Jeff Garneski of Lakes Mills, Peter Lindens of Waukesha and Becky Burke of Reeseville.  The parade begins on Monday around 9:15am and the ceremony starts at10:15am. The theme this year is “The Year of the Veteran 2012” which is meant to honor servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Organizers are asking service organizations, bands, schools, churches, and others to enter a float or marching group. Contact information is on our website wbevradio.com.

Lois Levenhagen – 920 887- 0642

Commission Asks Supreme Court to Proceed in Prosser Case

5/26/12 - The Wisconsin Judicial Commission asked the Supreme Court Friday to proceed with a disciplinary case against Justice David Prosser. The commission filed a request for the justices to form a panel of appellate judges. That group would consider the commission’s complaint against Prosser and recommend what, if any, punishment the Supreme Court should impose. Three ethics charges were filed in March against Prosser, for allegedly putting a choke-hold on fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley last June – and for allegedly making a derogatory remark to Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson in 2010. Prosser has asked his fellow justices to withdraw from the case, saying all but one were direct witnesses to the Bradley incident – and therefore, they could not be fair in deciding Prosser’s fate. Justice Pat Roggensack, part of the court’s conservative majority along with Prosser, has said she would withdraw. If two others do the same, Prosser could escape punishment because there would not be enough justices left to decide his case.

Top Stories May 25th

Severe Weather Hits Wisconsin

5/25/12 - A tornado in Marathon County capped off a day of rough weather in Wisconsin. Most parts of the state had strong winds yesterday afternoon and evening – and a number of places had heavy rains and thunderstorms.  Juneau had sustained wind speeds of 33-miles per hour with gusts hitting 43-miles per hour, while tree limbs and branches were down throughout the Beaver Dam-area.  The Beaver Dam Fire Department was also called out after a transformer on Third Street blew and a nearby tree caught fire, which they put out within minutes.  National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Last said the tornado touched down south of Marathon City around seven last night. It was on the ground intermittently for five minutes and several miles as it moved northeast. There were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage from that twister, but authorities were still surveying the area late last night.

Man Hurt After Flipping His Motorcycle

5/25/12 - A 44-year-old man was hospitalized after he flipped his motorcycle last night west of Watertown.  Authorities say Brian Winkers lost control of the bike on Highway 19 near Barry Road, flipped and went into the ditch.  He was taken to Watertown Hospital and later cited for failing to keep the motorcycle under control. 

Advanced Placement Testing Improving in BD

5/25/12 - More kids are taking and passing advanced placement tests in the Beaver Dam School District than ever.  The tests allow students to earn college credits while still in high school and cover a variety of subjects including chemistry, foreign languages and history.  Superintendent Steve Vessey says an effort to get more students to take the courses and tests has paid off as they’ve gone from 60 tests taken a few years ago to 300 this year. Passing rates up as well going from 33-percent two years ago to 53-percent last year and Vessey expects it to be even higher this year.  He says a 60-percent pass rate on 300 tests has a tuition value of $150,000 for their students.

Walker, Barrett Holding First Debate

5/25/12 - Governor Scott Walker will have a debate tonight with the Democrat who’s trying to recall him. The Republican governor and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will hash out the issues in a statewide televised debate which begins at eight o’clock. The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association is sponsoring tonight’s forum. It’s first of two debates planned between Walker and Barrett. The final one will be next Thursday night. Both will originate from Milwaukee. Recent polls give Walker a slight lead. But with relatively few undecided voters, both parties say the outcome will be determined on how many of their voters each party can get to the polls. That process began this week, when early absentee voting began at local government clerks’ offices.

BDAAA: James Milton Smith Exhibit Extended

5/25/12 - The Beaver Dam Area Arts Association’s spring exhibit has been extended through this weekend. “Unveiling the Unexpected” by James Milton Smith is a life-spanning retrospective from a painter versed in many styles: from landscape to contemporary, automobile to fantasy and an entire room dedicated to Wisconsin. Smith is also an accomplished commercial artist, producing work for Harley Davidson, General Motors and John Deere, including numbered and signed prints for John Deere Horicon Works milestone “Two Million” celebration. Smith has designed stamps, collector tin lid scenes, artwork for the Underground Railroad Milton House Museum, the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation even the Janesville bicentennial symbol. The Janesville-native has called Beaver Dam home for the past two decades. His show marks a renewed focus by the Association to exhibit local artists.  It’s also the third time in the Association’s history that they’ve had an exhibit dedicated to one artist, and the first time the artist not only framed every piece of artwork but also hung every single painting with his own two hands and provided guided tours nearly every day throughout the six-week exhibit. Smith says it’s the diversity of the work that makes “Unveiling The Unexpected” so unique. You can hear from the artist himself as James Milton Smith will be on hand for this final weekend of “Unveiling the Unexpected.” The Beaver Dam Area Arts Association is located in the Seippel Homestead and Center for the Arts on North Spring Street (right next to Culvers) and is open 1pm to 4pm through Sunday. All of Smith’s work is for sale, including originals and prints. For more information call 885-3635 or email bdaaa@seippelcenter.com.

Charges Follow Discovery of Nanny Cam In Bathroom

5/25/12 - A Grafton man is accused of hiding a Nanny Cam in his bathroom and capturing naked images of adult and juvenile women. Jon. M. DeBelak could spend up to seven years in prison if he is convicted on two felony charges. According to the criminal complaint, the 47-year-old planted one camera in a tissue box and the other in a clock radio at a Town of Hubbard home. DeBelak’s son and his friends discovered the camera and his ex-wife brought it to the attention of authorities. It was reported earlier this month but the offenses allegedly occurred in March and April. Among those secretly recorded was a teammate of Grafton’s from a local water-ski team. One victim has initiated civil proceedings against DeBelak and has a restraining order against him.

Ehrlich Bound Over for Trial

5/25/12 - A Neosho man will proceed to trial on charges that he tried to kill a man after a bar fight.  A Dodge County judge found probable cause yesterday and 32-year-old Michael Ehrlich was bound over on a felony charge of Attempted First Degree Intentional Homicide and misdemeanor Pointing A Firearm.  According to the criminal complaint, Ehrlich and the victim had been at odds with each other for months. The victim accused Ehrlich of inappropriate contact with his girlfriend while Ehrlich was reportedly assaulted by the victim outside the bar the night in question. When the victim returned to his Town of Rubicon home earlier this month to walk his dog, Ehrlich allegedly yelled that he was going to “kill him” and fired three shots at him. Ehrlich’s girlfriend told investigators that her boyfriend was sick the ongoing hostility so he grabbed his gun and went to the victim’s house to scare him. Ehrlich will be arraigned next month. If he is convicted, the charges carry a maximum penalty of over 60 years in prison.

WI Supreme Court Rules Against Mercedes-Benz

5/25/12 - The Wisconsin Supreme Court told Mercedes-Benz Thursday to pay almost a half-million-dollars to a Waukesha man who bought a defective car. Businessman Marco Marquez won a 482-thousand-dollar judgment under Wisconsin’s “Lemon Law.” The case has been shuffled among various courts since 2005. That was after Marquez bought a Mercedes E-320 from a Milwaukee dealership for 56-thousand dollars. He said the car would never start – and after several efforts to fix it, Marquez demanded a refund for the faulty vehicle. And the company failed to provide a refund within the 30 days allowed under the Lemon Law. Mercedes-Benz claimed that Marquez did not provide the company with enough information about the loan on his vehicle within the 30-day time limit. But the Supreme Court rejected that argument, and the justices said Mercedes also had to pay Marquez’s legal fees.

Blood Drive at BDHS Today

5/25/12 - The American Red Cross has put out an appeal for blood donors in advance of the Memorial Day weekend. Officials say the need for blood does not take a summer holiday and actually increases at a time when blood donations tend to decline. Five donors in the region who give blood through May 30 will win $200 from GiftCertificates.com and be entered to win $5000. A blood drive will be held today at the Beaver Dam High School from 8am until 1:45PM. It is open to the public and walk-ins are welcome. Another blood drive will be held Tuesday at Dodgeland High School in Juneau.

Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.  Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. 

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Location Change for WASD Commencement

5/25/12 - The location for the Waupun Area High School Commencement Ceremony has been changed due to the possibility of inclement weather. The ceremony Saturday has been moved from the athletic field to the High School Gymnasium and will begin at 1 p.m.  Anyone with questions should call 324-5591. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)

Top Stories May 24th

Accident Injures Two

5/24/12 – Two people were flighted to a Milwaukee hospital following a two-vehicle accident yesterday in Theresa. According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, the wreck occurred around 10am on State Highway 175 near 67. A vehicle operated by 27-year-old Megan McLellan of Campbellsport was northbound on Highway 175 when he vehicle crossed the centerline and struck a southbound pickup truck operated by 51-year-old Randy Gagliano of Mayville. The jaws of life were needed to remove both drivers from their vehicles; there were no passengers. The Dodge County Crash Investigating Team is investigating.

Fitzgerald and Compas Debate in Jefferson

5/24/12 – Job creation was among the topics the candidates in the State Senate District 13 recall election discussed at last night’s debate in Jefferson that drew several hundred people. Senator Leader Scott Fitzgerald touted the legislature’s job development strategy by highlighting the tax credits now available for manufacturers and business relocation, along with expanded small business loans.  Lori Compas says taking money from education and giving it to corporations in the form of tax breaks has done nothing but divide Wisconsinites. The Fort Atkinson Democrat says her jobs plan would focus on small businesses and farmers.   Also debated last night was the law that ended collective bargaining for most public employee unions.  Fitzgerald says the reform was about fairness for all taxpayers, while Compas says Fitzgerald’s agenda has turned neighbor against neighbor with a divisive political agenda.  Only a week-and-a-half remains before the June 5^th recall election. 

Strong Interest in Absentee Voting

5/24/12 – State elections’ officials report a strong interest in absentee voting for the June fifth recall contests. The Government Accountability Board said at least 90-thousand absentee ballots were given out at local clerks’ offices and mailed to voters as of yesterday afternoon. That’s much more than the 68-thousand ballots issued for the May eighth recall primaries. About 230-thousand absentee ballots were returned for the 2010 governor’s race. But since then, majority Republicans in the state Legislature shortened the period for early voting from a month before Election Day to two weeks before. And they cut it off on the Friday before Election Day instead of the Monday before. That means people can request ballots by mail through next Thursday. And in-person absentee voting at clerks’ offices will end a week from tomorrow.

McIntosh Pleads ‘Not Guilty”

5/24/12 - A Johnson Creek man entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment yesterday (Wed) to charges that he severely injured a passenger in a car accident. Brodie McIntosh is charged with Reckless Driving and Hit and Run, Causing Great Bodily Harm for a February 2011 accident in the Town of Lowell. Two emergency officials from the Lowell-Reeseville-area were charged with helping him cover it up.  According to the criminal complaint, the 26-year-old dropped a cigarette while driving 93mph on County G, leaned down to pick it up and put the car in the ditch. His passenger sustained a head injury. Off-duty Reeseville firefighter Nicholas Gay responded after received a private call from McIntosh and drove the victim away from the scene. The 31-year-old Gay was placed on deferred prosecution last week and will have two misdemeanors dropped from his record if he stays out of trouble for the next year. Gay is said to have enlisted 38-year-old Rhonda Gibson of Reeseville, who is the coordinator of the Lowell-Reeseville First Responders. Gibson allegedly drove McIntosh away from the scene to his mother’s tavern in Waterloo. Earlier this month, a judge denied a motion dismiss a felony charge of Hit and Run, as a Party to a Crime and misdemeanor Failure to Report a Crime. When questioned, both Gay and Gibson allegedly said they should have contacted authorities. McIntosh has court activity on the calendar again in July. 

Jury Trial Set for Prison Guard

5/24/12 - A four day jury trial was scheduled yesterday for a prison guard at Waupun Correctional accused of having a sexual relationship with an inmate. Officials began to monitor the inmate and 34-year-old Jolene Mason of Beaver Dam after receiving a tip. Letters were reportedly intercepted from a PO address that detailed interactions between the two. The inmate later confessed saying the relationship began in December of 2010 and continued through April of last year. Mason allegedly smuggled a cell phone into the inmate so the two could talk and text and also brought in food, jewelry, tattoo ink and needles. The jury trial is scheduled to begin October 9.

Nelson Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ in Slow-Speed Pursuit

5/24/12 - A Reeseville man entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment yesterday to charges that he led Beaver Dam police on a traffic pursuit.  Jesse Nelson is charged with felony Fleeing an Officer. Police were on the lookout for Nelson’s vehicle late last month around 2:30am after receiving calls of a motorist swerving all over the road. Officers allegedly observed the suspects vehicle with expired tags cross the centerline multiple times before initiating a traffic stop. The 22-year-old reportedly failed to pull over, leading authorities on a low-speed pursuit that at times reached speeds of five miles-per-hour. After driving onto a curb, Nelson finally stopped his car as officers executed a high-risk traffic stop with guns drawn. If convicted, the charge carries a maximum sentence of three-and-a-half years in prison.

Income Taxes for Businesses Becoming Issue in Recall

5/24/12 – The Walker recall election has brought more attention to a new state law that will practically eliminate state income taxes for many businesses. Democrat Tom Barrett says it’s one of the measures he might try to roll back if he manages to defeat Republican Governor Scott Walker on June fifth. He is calling it one of the biggest shifts in state tax policy since Wisconsin first adopted the income tax in 1911. State income tax rates for manufacturing and agricultural output in Wisconsin would be phased out by 2016. And tax credits which are not used can be counted against other income like stock dividends, and can be carried over for up to 15 years. The state’s largest business group, Wisconsin Manufacturers-and-Commerce, has hailed the change as a catalyst for the state’s long-term business climate. But the Institute for Wisconsin’s Future calls it a “total giveaway to the wealthy.” The Legislative Fiscal Bureau says it will cost the state 360-million-dollars in revenues over the next four years – and 130-million each year after that. The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign said it was a main factor in a report it released this week, showing that the state’s business tax breaks will cost the average family of four 235-dollars next year, and 300-dollars by 2021, as individuals get a bigger share of the state tax burden that is taken away from business.

Powerball Up to $128M

5/24/12 – The third-highest Powerball jackpot of the year is still in play for Saturday night. It rose to 128-million dollars after nobody won the top prize last night. A ticket sold in Onalaska won 10-thousand dollars by matching four regular numbers plus the Powerball. Just over 10-thousand-500 Wisconsin players won smaller prizes. Last night’s numbers were 4, 7, 26, 53, and 59. The Powerball was 32. The current jackpot has been building since April 25th and has rolled over eight times. The cash option for Saturday night is just under 84-million dollars. In Mega Millions, the jackpot is at 24-million-dollars for tomorrow night.

Top Stories May 23rd

Waupun Seclusion Room Voluntarily Suspended

5/23/12 - The Waupun School District has voluntarily suspended its use of a seclusion room at Rock River Intermediate for the rest of the year. The district came under scrutiny last week after a parent complained that the room was used to punish her autistic child. Mandy Rennhack had asked special education teachers last fall to stop placing her ten-year-old son into the 5-by-7-foot padded plywood box when he was having discipline issues – and she’d pick him up from school instead. Rennhack said she was upset to learn that the box was used again in March. The Department of Public Instruction toured the school last week at the request of district officials. Waupun Interim Superintendent Donald Childs says the state made a number of recommendations. Among them: the installation of a floor covering over the concrete tiles, tightening of the padding on the walls and putting up a parabolic mirror so teachers can see into the room.  The state also recommended removal of a pressure lock from the door, which would bring the district in compliance with a law change that goes into effect in the fall. Childs says the district had already planned to make changes to the lock and ventilation. A report is being assembled and officials with the DPI say it will be made public once it is completed, which is expected in the next 60 days.

Man Charged With Raping Young Girl

5/23/12 - A 28-year-old man is charged with the repeated sexual assault of a young girl. Jesus Padilla made an Initial Appearance yesterday in Dodge County court on a felony charge of Repeated First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. Padilla is currently being held in the Kettle Moraine Correctional Facility but had previously lived in the Cambria-Friesland area. The incident occurred in Dodge County between June and November of 2010, shortly after his release from prison for Repeated Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. Padilla allegedly raped his girlfriend’s 11-year-old daughter, though sexual contact dated back to when she was in Kindergarten. The girl said if she complained or refused, Padilla would slap her on the head. The girl said she was afraid because she did not know if Padilla would hurt her mother, brother or sister. If convicted, Padilla faces up to 60 years in prison. A signature bond was set at $500 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled next month.

Driver Takes Dancing With the Stars Title

5/23/12 - Donald Driver is the 14th champion of “Dancing With the Stars.” The Green Bay Packers’ receiver beat out Katherine Jenkins and William Levy last night on A-B-C. And the Super Bowl champion adds the Mirror Ball trophy to his collection of honors. Driver and his partner Peta Murgatroyd capped off 10 weeks of ballroom competition with a final cha-cha, in which the muscular Driver went shirtless. It gave him his second perfect score from the judges in two nights. With all three contestants’ just one point apart, it was Monday night’s viewer votes that put Driver over the top. The exact vote totals were not released, but they counted for 50-percent of the final scores. Packer fans came through all season, as their votes kept Driver in the competition. On Monday, Packers Clay Matthews and James Jones went on Twitter to campaign for their teammate. Miss America, Wisconsin’s Laura Kaeppeler, tweeted a pitch. And even Governor Scott Walker and his recall election opponent Tom Barrett urged fans to vote for Driver in a video produced by the player’s marketing team. Driver got hugs from his family as the confetti rained down last night. But he didn’t have much time to celebrate, as he flew from Los Angeles to New York overnight to appear on A-B-C’s “Good Morning America.” Driver joins Emmitt Smith and Hines Ward as the third N-F-L player to win the dancing crown.

Homes Sales Up In State, Down in Region

5/23/12 - Home sales by Wisconsin Realtors rose 19-and-a-half percent last month, compared to the year before – and median sale prices edged up for the second month in a row. The Wisconsin Realtors Association says that its members sold 52-hundred-18 existing homes throughout the state last month. That’s up from 43-hundred-65 in April of last year. The opposite trend occurred in our region. There were 63 homes sold in Dodge County last month, down three from the previous April. Columbia County saw 50 homes sales, down eight. Jefferson County had 73 home sales last month, four less than April last year. Washington County fared well though, with a 60% increase; 117 homes were sold last month compared to 73 the year prior. The median re-sale price went up from 125-thousand dollars last April to 128-thousand this April, a slight increase of two-point-four percent. Dodge County homes sales though were down 7-percent, dropping from $105,000 to 97,500. Washington County homes prices were down two-percent to $178,500. Jefferson County home prices though edged up a half percentage point to $132,500 while Columbia County saw an eight-percent increase to $127,900. Realtors Association president Michael Theo said 10 straight months of double-digit growth have shown that home sales have turned the corner after the recession – and there are preliminary signs that prices are on an upward trend.

Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident Identified

5/23/12 - Authorities have released the name of the Iron Ridge man killed after crashing his motorcycle into a tree near Neosho.  50-year-old Ronald Breitkruetz lost control while negotiating a curve on Pond Road and veered off the roadway before striking the tree.  The accident was discovered early Monday afternoon but he crash is believed to have happened sometime around Sunday afternoon.

Harley-Davidson Sale Prices Up

5/23/12 - There’s another sign today that the economy’s getting better. Financial analyst Robert W. Baird-and-Company said more of Harley-Davidson’s motorcycles are selling at-or-above the suggested retail prices. And it’s the first time since 2008 that a majority of Harley bikes in the U-S are not being sold below what the manufacturer suggests. The Milwaukee motorcycle legend has had a strong recovery, after taking some big financial lumps during the Great Recession. Baird analyst Craig Kennison surveyed 40 Harley dealers around the nation – and he found that the demand for new bikes was up by 4-to-5 percent, compared to 25-percent earlier in the spring. He said dealer inventories have gotten lower.

State Not As Friendly to Bicyclists as it Once Was

5/23/12 - Wisconsin is no longer one of the Top-Five friendliest states for bicycles. But it’s still the sixth-best in the nation, according to an annual ranking released Tuesday from the League of American Bicyclists. The Badger State was third-best a year ago, and second-best in 2010. The League’s report noted that Wisconsin spends a low amount of its federal transportation funds on bicycle projects and accommodations – not even one-point-two percent. The national average is about one-and-three-quarter percent. The League recommended the state set up funding criteria to encourage things like safe bike trails. It said that Wisconsin’s bicycle ridership – while good – quote, “must continue to increase.” The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin said other states are increasing their funding on cycling, while the Badger State cut three-million-dollars in state cycling funds in the current two-year budget passed by Republicans in 2011. The state D-O-T issued a statement touting its Number-Six national ranking. It did not mention the funding issue. But D-O-T bicycle-and-pedestrian coordinator Jill Mrotek Glenzinski did mention recent state laws which improve safety – like allowing signal turns with either hand, and using red-rear-lights instead of reflectors. Also, she said the state is implementing one of the nation’s first “complete street” laws, which require bike and walking accommodations in road-building projects.

Thompson Named Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company

5/23/12 - A pharmaceutical company has named Republican U-S Senate candidate Tommy Thompson as the new chairman of its Board-of-Directors. The C-E-O of Therapeutics M-D says the firm is happy to have Thompson on board because of his experience in the health care industry. He’s on a number of health-related company boards, and he’s a former secretary of the U-S Department of Health and Human Services. Therapeutics M-D is a subsidiary of Vita-Med-M-D, which makes dietary supplements and other products focusing on women’s health. Brian Nemoir of Thompson’s Senate campaign says it’s expected to be a short-term appointment for the former governor. Thompson reported in January that he was given at least five-thousand-dollars by 33 companies and groups to deliver speeches and-or consulting services. Thompson has said he’s in the process of leaving his board and company positions. And if he’s elected to the Senate in November, Thompson said he would give up all of them. Thompson is running against three other Republicans in the August 14th primary. The winner goes up against House Democrat Tammy Baldwin in November, for the Senate seat to be given up by the retiring Herb Kohl.

BDUSD Looking for New Board Member

5/23/12 - The Beaver Dam School Board is seeking applicants for an open spot on the board.  Kim Darst resigned last month, one year into her second term on the board.  In an effort to replace her, the board is conducting a district-wide search to fill the vacancy.  Interested residents should deliver a letter of interest and relevant experience to the district office by 4:30pm on June 4^th.  The school board will schedule a special meeting in June to interview all the candidates.  The person chosen will be sworn in during the board meeting on July 16^th and serve until next April when the spring elections are held.