Top Stories May 10th

Man Injured in ATV Accident

5/10/12 - Flight for Life was called in after a man was seriously injured in an ATV accident late yesterday afternoon.  It happened in a farm field off County Highway E in between Beaver Dam and Horicon.  Authorities say 24-year-old Jacob Pitzlin was riding through a cornfield when the ATV struck a washed out area and went airborne before rolling over.  Pitzlin was flown to Froedert Hospital.  He was not wearing a helmet or other protective gear.  The crash is still under investigation.

Governor’s Recall Expected to be Close

5/10/12 - The governor’s recall race is extremely tight – and Madison pollster Paul Maslin expects it to stay that way through Election Day on June fifth. Maslin, who has done polling for Democrats Kathleen Falk and Tom Barrett, says he’d be shocked if the final margin is more than two-percent either way. He says neither Barrett nor Republican Governor Scott Walker will likely get more than 51-percent of the vote. A recent Marquette poll showed that 96-percent of likely voters have decided how they’ll choose. So both parties are digging deeper to try-and-reach the undecided. State Democratic Party chairman Mike Tate said 200-thousand people who signed the Walker recall petitions did not vote in 2010. And the Democrats hope to draw in as many of those folks as possible. Meanwhile, the state G-O-P has been busy manning the phones. Party political director Tom Dickens says volunteers have made over two-million calls to voters since January – more than they did in the 2010 elections.

Grosenick Gets Prison Time for 7^th OWI

5/10/12 - A seventh OWI will land an Iron Ridge-area man in prison for five years. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says a deputy pulled over Dennis Grosenick last November after observing him cross the center line and almost put his vehicle into the ditch while making a right hand turn.  A preliminary breath test indicated that Grosenick’s blood alcohol level was nearly three times legal limit of .08.  In addition to five years in prison, Grosenick was sentenced to five years of extended supervision and had his license revoked for three years.

Man In Court for Alleged Coin Box Break-in

5/10/12 - A North Carolina man was arraigned yesterday on charges that he tried to break into the coin box at a Beaver Dam car wash. 30-year-old Tommy Holden stood mute and the court entered a “not guilty” plea on his behalf. Holden and another man are charged with felony Possession of Burglary Tools and misdemeanor Attempted Theft and Criminal Damage to Property. Alleged co-conspirator Steven Ellis has a plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for this morning.  Authorities say officers were dispatched to the Shell Travel Mart at 821 Park Avenue at 1:15am on April 8 after the clerk saw two men trying to pry open the coin box in the car wash. The pair was reportedly found in possession of crowbars, screwdrivers and a pillowcase filled with $369.73 in loose change. They also found an atlas with dozens of locations listed in several states with notations by cities that said “difficult” and “easy.” If convicted, the charges carry a maximum penalty of nearly five years in prison.

Peterson Pleads Not Guilty

5/10/12 - A Beaver Dam man entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment yesterday to charges that he tried to smuggle marijuana into the Fox Lake Correctional Institution. 20-year-old Christopher Peterson is charged with Delivering Illegal Articles to An Inmate and Possession of THC. Peterson and a Beaver Dam woman are charged as being a Party to a Crime because they say two other drug dealers pressured them into smuggling the contraband. He was arrested in March after allegedly being found in possession of 95 individually-wrapped balloons filled with pot, sealed inside an otherwise empty bag of Cool Ranch Doritos that was taped shut and stuffed down his pants.

Communities Dealing with Sewage Overflows Due to Flooding

5/10/12 - Eighteen communities in east central Wisconsin have reported sewage overflows or related problems as the result of last week’s heavy rains. In Ripon, officials said over two-million gallons of partially-treated wastewater were spilled into Silver Creek last Thursday. The city told the D-N-R it was trying to prevent flooding at its sewage treatment plant due to heavy flows. In Denmark, near Green Bay, about 150-thousand gallons of partially-treated sewage was pumped into Denmark Creek during three hours of overflows. The community had one-point-eight inches of rain the previous 24 hours. Kewaunee said 150-thousand-gallons of sewage flowed into the Kewaunee River to prevent basement backups. Berlin reported two sanitary sewer overflows on a day when it recorded over four-inches of rain. Parts of east central Wisconsin had four-and-a-half inches of rain on May third. Fond du Lac said it had one overflow incident three days later, when another big thunderstorm hit.

Another Person Gets Immunity in John Doe Investigation

5/10/12 - A 12th person has been granted immunity in the John Doe investigation into Governor Scott Walker’s aides during his time as the Milwaukee County executive. Court records show that former Milwaukee Municipal Judge David Halbrooks requested-and-received immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony in the secret Doe proceeding. Cullen Werwie, Walker’s chief spokesman as governor, is among the 11 who were previously granted immunity since June of 2010. Five Walker aides and associates have been charged as a result of the John Doe probe with offenses ranging embezzlement from a veterans’ event to illegal campaigning on taxpayers’ time. One ex-aide has pleaded guilty. Walker has insisted he’s not the target of the probe, and he’s been cooperating with investigators. But Barrett and other critics point to Walker’s legal defense fund – which by state law is allowed only for office-holders under investigation for ethics and campaign law violations. Walker’s campaign recently transferred 60-thousand-dollars in donations to that fund.

Lake Winnebago Possible Flooding

5/10/12 - Folks on Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh could see some rare flooding – but it’s expected to be minor. And forecasters say it will only affect low-lying areas consisting mostly of boat-docks and back yards. The National Weather Service said the lake’s flood stage at Oshkosh is three-and-a-half feet, and it was at that level at one this morning. A flood advisory is in effect until tomorrow morning on Lake Winnebago at Oshkosh. Also, a flood warning continues on the Fox River near Berlin, where four-inches of rain fell a week ago. The river was a foot-and-a-quarter above its flood stage at four this morning. But again, only minor floods are expected. Forecasters expect the Fox to maintain its current level at least through tomorrow morning. Some parts of Wisconsin had 10 straight days of rain which ended earlier this week. Dry weather is predicted for a second straight day, with sunny skies statewide and warmer temperatures with highs in the 60’s-and-70’s.

River Market Returns for 2^nd Year

5/10/12 - It’s the beginning of year two for the Beaver Dam River Market in the downtown Tower Parking lot. Michael Firchow with the non-profit group “Downtown Beaver Dam Inc.” says the River Market will be held again this year on the second Saturday morning of the warmer weather months. The theme this weekend is “The Great Race” and will feature hot rod racers on display and a scavenger hunt. Vendors will be selling everything from food and produce to crafts and health and products. Live music will be provided by Beaver Dam-native Peter Theis (tice). The River Market is held from 8am until noon.

BDUSD Announces Employees of the Year

5/10/12 - The Beaver Dam School District has announced its 2011-2012 Employees of the Year. Winning the Elementary School Teacher of the Year was Diana Skare, a kindergarten teacher at Washington, while the honor at the middle school was given to 6^th grade teacher David Tietz.  At the High School, physical education teacher Kelly Riehbrandt earned the award.  Jefferson Elementary Grant Coordinator Peg Foerster was named Administrator/Coordinator of the Year, while Lisa Schleicher was awarded as the Special Education Services Teacher of the Year.  Wilson Elementary’s Special Education Teacher Assistant Susan Biel was named the Teacher Assistant/Tutor of the year.  And finally, Trenton’s Shawn Buchda will receive the Custodian of the Year award, while Terri Wilber will get the Secretary of the Year award for her work, also at Trenton. All the winners will be recognized at the District’s Recognition Banquet to be held on May 20th.