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)