Top Stories May 11th

Disagreements in Columbus of Fees Continues

5/11/12 - The Columbus School Board and city officials are searching for resolution to money disagreements. The school district is not willing to pay for use of city-owned ball fields and the cost of furnishing crossing guards for students. Historically, the city has been paying for field maintenance and crossing guards but is attempting to set up a fee schedule for both.  City Administrator Boyd Kraemer told the council this week that the two sides are at a stalemate and more negotiations need to be scheduled.  The city is recommending the fees based on a Research Lab public survey.  One response indicated the majority of citizens believe that “those who play on city fields should help pay for maintenance costs.” 

Mother and Boyfriend Facing More Charges in Child’s Death

5/11/12 - A Washington County woman and her boyfriend each face eight new criminal charges for allowing the woman’s toddler to die from a massive infection, and running a drug house. 25-year-old Leann Leszynski and 24-year-old Justin Streicher appeared in court yesterday on counts child neglect and drug charges that include possessing cocaine, heroin, and Oxycodone. Prosecutors said Leszynski allowed her three-year-old daughter Haley to die from a strepto-coccus infection throughout her body last month, because she was afraid she’d be charged with child abuse. And officials said her boyfriend ignored symptoms in the girl that kept getting worse. An autopsy showed that the infection spread from a cut in Haley’s finger. Prosecutors also said the two sold numerous drugs from their apartment.

Graham in Court

5/11/12 - A 44-year-old Sheboygan man waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday on charges that he burglarizes the Aurora Pharmacy in Lomira. Randall Graham is charged with felony Burglary, Possession with Intent to Deliver Non-Narcotics and criminal damage to property. According to the criminal complaint, deputies responded last June to a burglary alarm that started at the pharmacy around 4am. A similar burglary had occurred earlier in the night at another Aurora Pharmacy in Kewaskum. During that incident, an officer confronted the suspect who fled the in a tan mini-van. In Lomira, deputies discovered the front door had been smashed with a rock, the cash register was cleaned out and shelves were emptied of drugs. Around $580 worth of drugs was stolen and damage in Lomira topped $6000. Graham was later transported to the Sheboygan Police Department for questioning but escaped in a stolen highway truck. A search of his home reportedly turned up 2000 prescription medications and a shirt that matched the one the suspect wore in the burglary in Lomira. If convicted, Graham could face up to 22 years in prison for the Dodge County offense not counting additional charges related to other burglaries in Kewaunee, Washington, Manitowoc and Ozaukee counties.

Carol Tour’s Trial Will Stay in Dodge County

5/11/12 - A Dodge County judge on Thursday denied a motion by attorneys for former Carol’s Tour’s owner Deb Paul to move the trial outside the county. Paul closed the doors of the Beaver Dam travel agency four years ago, leaving as many as 200 paying customers without vacations.  The 56-year-old faces felony charges of Theft in a Business Setting. Paul is accused of paying her own personal bills with company cash and (quote) “robbing Peter to pay Paul” when it came to paying for customer vacations. Her office manager has already been sentenced to 18 months in prison.  Paul has court activity on the calendar again next month.

Ellis Gets 90-Days in Jail

5/11/12 - Ninety days in jail for a North Carolina man who tried to break into a coin box at a Beaver Dam car wash. 30-year-old Steven Ellis entered a “no contest” plea yesterday and was also placed on probation for two years. His alleged co-conspirator Tommy Holden entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment on Wednesday. The 30-year-olds were found in possession of burglary tools and hundreds of dollars in change at the Shell Travel Mart last month after the clerk witnessed two trying to pry open the cash box.

Benning Sentenced to Jail Time

5/11/12 - An Oconomowoc woman was sentenced Thursday to 90 days in jail for stealing over $5000 from the gas station where she worked. Jessica Benning had previously pled “no contest” to reduced misdemeanor Theft charges. The 21-year-old took cash, cigarettes and other items from the Ashippun BP over a nine-month period ending last September. Management was tipped-off to the theft from an anonymous tip. She admitted the thefts to investigators and said she learned a trick with the cash register to cover her tracks from a former employee. Benning was also placed on probation for one year.

State Budget Now at a Surplus

5/11/12 - Governor Scott Walker’s administration said yesterday that the current state budget is no longer in the red – and the state will have a 154-million-dollar surplus when the budget expires next June. Republican legislative finance co-chair Robin Vos said the surplus shows how honest budgeting pays off. But Democratic Assembly leader Peter Barca said the timing of the news is quote, “highly suspect” with Walker’s recall election just 25 days away. Barca also said the Legislative Fiscal Bureau probably won’t put out new budget projections until early next year. But the administration said it was using April’s tax collection figures from the Revenue Department. Revenue Secretary Rick Chandler said the final job numbers from last fall were higher than originally reported – and his department revised its income tax revenues accordingly. Also, the state took in 78-million-dollars by refinancing debt. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau said most of it came from delaying state payments, causing long-term interest payments to rise. Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch said 45-million of the new surplus will go into the state’s Rainy Day Fund for future emergencies. Tom Barrett, the Democratic finalist in the Walker recall election, says he would use some of the money to help foreclosure victims. Barrett said he would also wipe out tax hikes for low-income workers hit by a reduction in the earned income tax credit.

WI 8^th Graders Scored Higher than National Average

5/11/12 - Wisconsin eighth-graders scored higher than the national average on a science test – but both scores were only up slightly from two years before. Wisconsin youngsters had an average score of 159-out-of-a-possible-300 last year in the science part of the National Assessment of Educational Progress. That’s eight points higher than the national average – but both the state and national scores were up by just two points from 2009. About 21-hundred Wisconsin eighth graders took the exam just over a year ago. And the difference in scores between black-and-white students was larger in Wisconsin than the 38 other states in which similar data was available. White students scored 166 on the national science test, and blacks scored 45 points lower. Blacks and Asians in Wisconsin had lower scores than the nation. Hispanics scored about the same as their U-S counterparts. And low-income students and those with disabilities scored higher than elsewhere.

Quarterly Profits Down for Kohl’s

5/11/12 - The Wisconsin-based Kohl’s department store chain reports a 23-percent drop in its quarterly profits from a year ago. That’s after Kohl’s cut prices in an effort to prop up its sales. The Menomonee Falls chain did report slightly higher revenues four almost four-and-a-quarter billion dollars from January through March. That’s up by about 80-million from the same time a year ago. But Kohl’s profits fell from 201-million-dollars in the first quarter of 2011 to 154-million this year. Earnings totaled 63-cents a share. That’s six-cents less than a year ago, but two-cents more than what outside analysts projected. Kohl’s operates stores throughout the state and country including in Beaver Dam, West Bend and Fond du Lac. 

Party Convention Numbers Expected to be Up

5/11/12 - Controversy, recall elections and a super-heated political climate are expected to generate bigger-than-usual crowds at this year’s Wisconsin state party conventions.  Green Bay is getting ready for a convergence of Republicans this weekend, with a spokesman saying this year’s attendance should top the 13 hundred who showed up last year in Wisconsin Dells.  That figured represented the biggest Republican turnout in 40 years.  Democrats meet next month in Appleton.  A party spokesperson says the historic recall election, this November’s presidential vote and an open U.S. Senate seat in Wisconsin can be expected to mean huge crowds for the Democratic state party convention June 8th and 9th.

Chamber Having Beaver Carved

5/11/12 - There’s a new beaver in Beaver Dam. Bob Younger is a chainsaw artist with Younger’s Woodery of Eagle, Wisconsin. Younger specializes in tree stump animal carvings and while he’s only carved six beaver’s this is his second beaver in Beaver Dam. He is the man responsible for carving the beaver on Park Avenue and University that can often times be seen dressed as everything from a Packers fan to Harry Potter. It was that carving that drew the attention of the local Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director Phil Fritsche hired a Younger to transform the stump of a blue spruce in front of the chamber building into the city’s new mascot. Younger says the customer often has a good idea of what they are looking for but the wood can also dictate the finished product.  He says the beaver in front of the Beaver Dam Chamber has its own unique style – part realistic and part caricature -- and is very different from the one on Park Avenue.  It took Younger around four hours on Thursday to carve the beaver. He’ll be back today to put on the finishing touches before officials with the Chamber stain the wood.

Driver’s Dancing Causing More Calls to a Door County Home

5/11/12 - Donald Driver’s success on “Dancing With the Stars” has a Door County plumber dancing to-and-from his phone. Jeff Paschke has the same number as the one viewers use to vote for Driver on the show – minus the 800-prefix. That didn’t matter much when Kirstie Alley had the number a while back. But as you might expect, loyal Packer fans jam the lines to vote for Driver – and some of them call Paschke by mistake. When the show started two months ago, nobody called Paschke. But the next Monday night, he got 54 calls from Driver’s voters. And as usual with viewer voting, the calls increase as the numbers of finalists narrow down. Paschke got 150 calls this past Monday night, when Driver made the Final Four in the competition. He says he normally answers, and tells people to call back and use the 800-prefix. Driver is beloved by Packer fans statewide – but apparently, folks in northeast Wisconsin are most rabid about voting for him. Paschke says all his calls have come from the 9-2-0 area code.

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.

Top Stories May 9th

Compas To Face Fitzgerald

5/9/12 - Republican Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau will face Lori Compas of Fort Atkinson in the general election on June 5. Compas beat out declared “fake” Democrat Gary Ellerman of Lake Mills to take District 13. Compas was responsible for organizing the recall petition against Fitzgerald.  She secured 73% of the vote compared to the 25% Ellerman picked-up.

Barrett V Walker

5/9/12 - Unseating Republican Governor Scott Walker will be up to Tom Barrett, who won Tuesday's primary. Barrett took the primary ahead of second place finisher Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.  In Dodge County, Barrett received 55% of the vote compared to 38% for Falk. Kathleen Vinehout, Doug La Follette and “fake” democrat Gladys Huber were also on the ballot. Walker, meanwhile, secured over 98% of the ballots cast in the county with opposition from “fake” Republican Arthur Kohl-Riggs. Analysts expect next month’s race to be tight, with hard campaigning on both sides. Barrett is outmatched by Walker in fundraising, with the latter having raised a record 25-million dollars. The last time the two men went head to head, in 2010, Walker beat Barrett by nearly six percent.  Madison firefighter Mahlon Mitchell will take on Republican Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch in the recall election. Mitchell beat private investigator Ira Robins and Isaac Weix. Mitchell is a union leader.

Dodge County Voter Turnout at 45%

5/9/12 - Close to 45% of registered voters in Dodge County cast a ballot in yesterday’s Primary Recall Election. County Clerk Karen Gibson says there are 47,118 registered voters in Dodge County and there were 21,495 ballots cast.

Recall Prompts Domestic Incident

5/9/12 - In Chippewa Falls, police said a man was injured when his wife struck him with a car, after they argued about who she was going to vote for in today’s recall primary for governor. The incident occurred around 12:45 this afternoon. 36-year-old Jeffrey Radle was taken to an Eau Claire hospital with undetermined injuries. Chippewa Falls Police Chief Wendy Stelter said Amanda Radle was trying to drive away in an alley when her husband stood in front of the auto to keep her from leaving. The driver reportedly nudged her husband several times – and when she finally tried to drive around Jeffrey, he apparently jumped in front of the auto and was hit. Amanda then drove to the police station to report the incident. Officials say both spouses face possible domestic-related charges.

Prosser Soliciting Justice Withdrawl

5/9/12 - State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser has officially asked a fifth colleague to withdraw from his disciplinary case. The State Judicial Commission has filed three ethics charges against Prosser, mainly for last summer’s incident in which Prosser got into a physical altercation with fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. Prosser filed court documents Tuesday saying that Justice Michael Gableman should recuse himself if the Supreme Court is asked to make a final judgment on Prosser. That’s because Gableman directly witnessed the incident, as did all the other justices except Pat Crooks. Prosser has asked Bradley, Crooks, Pat Roggensack, and Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson to withdraw from his ethics case. Only Roggensack has agreed so far. If three others do so, it means there won’t be enough left to consider punishing Prosser – and his charges would be dropped.

Juneau Seeks To Reconstruct Mill With TIF Funds

5/9/12 - The Juneau Common Council last night moved ahead with a plan to reconstruct a portion of South Mill Street. The two-block stretch is the primary access road for Sensient Industries and has been in need reconstruction for several years. The city has secured a $504-thousand dollar grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation but needs another half-million dollars in matching funds to complete the project. Juneau Mayor Ron Bosak says the city is looking at creative ways to fund the city-portion of South Mill Street without borrowing. City officials last night approved the hiring of MSA Professional Services at a cost of $10,000 to begin the process of reopening Tax Increment Finance District #2. The TIF includes the city’s newest industrial park as well as the strip mall with Piggly Wiggly and is due to expire in 2020. Bosak says the TIF has performed “exceptionally well” and has $2 million dollars in available funds that had been designated for other projects that no longer need to be completed, like the construction of another water tower. The city would also need approval of the various taxing entities – like the county, the school district.

Damaged Squad Could Cost Juneau $8K

5/9/12 - It could cost the city of Juneau $8000 to replace the squad car that was damaged in a hit-and-run accident last month. The Common Council last night unanimously approved the purchase of a new squad car from a Madison dealership at a cost not to exceed $30,000. Mayor Ron Bosak says insurance will only cover $22,000 of the cost with the difference the result of depreciation and new equipment needed for the squad. The 2012-model vehicle was only in operation for a few months when it totaled last month.  Officer Brittany Borchardt was parked on the side of West Oak Street when 2000 Ford Explorer struck the rear of the squad car. Authorities arrested 41-year-old Chad Buelter the next morning at his Lake Sinissippi home. While not formally charged yet by the District Attorney’s Office, deputies charges Buelter with Hit-and-Run Causing Injury and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. The new model is expected to be delivered in the next month. Bosak says it’s badly needed as the police department is down to one squad car.

Kraft Foods Fined $36,900

5/9/12 - Kraft Foods has paid a fine of $36,900 for selling meat products that were lighter than the weights listed on the packages. The state’s consumer protection division announced the penalty Tuesday. Weights-and-measures inspectors said they found two dozen cases of short-weighted quantities in several Wisconsin stores between last August and February. The short-weight items include 11 packs of Oscar Mayer light beef franks, a dozen packages of Oscar Mayer roast beef, and one pack of Oscar Mayer roaster turkey breasts. Officials said Kraft was also penalized last July for selling under-sized packages – so the new penalties are higher than the minimums.

Wisconsin Whooping Cough Cases Top 2000

5/9/12 - Wisconsin is close to having two-thousand confirmed-and-probable cases of whooping cough so far this year. That’s well above last year, when just 158 cases were reported by now. The Dodge County Health Department was among the agencies late last year urging the public to get vaccinated. Beth Kaplan of the state Health Services Department says widespread outbreaks of pertussis have occurred throughout Wisconsin. It’s a highly-contagious disease that produces almost uncontrollable coughing, thus making it hard to breathe. Officials say whooping cough is especially dangerous for infants. State officials said one baby died from pertussis in February. And for most infants, pneumonia is the prime complication. Milwaukee alone had 54 cases of whooping cough in April, and six so far this month. Paul Biedrzycki (bid-zick-ee) of the Milwaukee Health Department says the city is not at epidemic proportions just yet – but he’s monitoring the situation very closely.

Top Stories May 4th

Columbus Man Bound Over For Chase In BD

5/4/12 - A Columbus man will proceed to trial on charges that he led police on a high speed chase in two stolen cars before fleeing on foot. During a preliminary hearing yesterday, a Dodge County judge found probable cause for Michael Lasiewicz to be bound over on felony charges of Fleeing an Officer. The 30-year-old’s former girlfriend called police in March to report Lasiewicz as an unwanted person at a South Spring Street apartment.  When authorities approached the unit, he fled in a vehicle registered to his ex, sparking a chase down South Center Street that reached speeds in excess of 100mph. Lasiewicz allegedly weaved through the yards of homes South Center and McIntosh Drive before crashing a mile south of Highway 151. He then fled on foot across a river and managed to elude a K9 unit even though police say he was in noticeable pain. Around 1:45am, Lasiewicz was said to be at a home on Canary Road. By the time authorities got on scene he was gone again, in another stolen vehicle. Ninety minutes later, he returned again to the South Spring Street apartment and was taken into custody. Lasiewicz is no stranger to local authorities. He escaped from a squad car last June and managed to elude police for almost two weeks before sparking a chase in Dodge County that ended with him in jail for seven months. And he is actively facing dozens of felony and misdemeanor charges for a variety of offenses in Columbia County. Lasiewicz is being held on a $50,000 cash bond; arraignment on the newest charge is scheduled later this month.

Weiss Appears on 6^th OWI Charge

5/4/12 - A Neosho man had cash bond set at $15,000 after being arrested for his sixth Operating While Intoxicated offense on Monday.  Authorities responded to reports of a car in a ditch on Pond Road in Rubicon at 5:30am. Corey Weiss was said to be the driver and lone occupant. Deputies approached the vehicle had noticed it struck several trees and had extensive front end damage. Also, Weiss was not wearing pants. The 42-year-old reportedly told authorities it was bladder related. His blood alcohol level was over the legal limit for driving at point-zero-nine-nine (.09). When asked how much he had to drink, Weiss allegedly told deputies (quote) “enough.” Sixth Offense OWI carries a maximum six year prison sentence, upon conviction. Weiss has a preliminary hearing on the calendar next week.

4^th Safest April on Wisconsin Highways

5/4/12 - Last month was tied for the fourth-safest April on Wisconsin highways since the end of World War Two in the 1940’s. Forty-one people were killed in crashes throughout the state last month. That was three more than the previous April, but seven fewer the average for the past five years. The D-O-T said 152 people lost their lives on Wisconsin roads in the first four months of this year. That’s 24 more than a year ago, but one fewer than the five-year average. Thirteen motorcyclists and nine pedestrians have been included in the 2012 death toll so far. Three people have been killed on Dodge County roadways to date. State Patrol Major Sandra Huxtable, who heads the D-O-T’s Bureau of Transportation Safety, said this year’s increase in deaths is due in large part to motorists not buckling up. She said drivers and passengers have been ejected, or tossed around violently within their vehicles. Huxtable says the D-O-T will again take part in the annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign around Memorial Day. Officers will make a larger effort to ticket those not wearing seat belts.

Judge Pushes for Settlement

5/4/12 - A bankruptcy judge ordered the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese Thursday to begin what she called “meaningful settlement negotiations” with the church’s creditors. And depending how those talks go, Judge Susan Kelley said she might bring in a mediator to hammer out agreements as early as June. Kelley ordered the talks during a status conference into the Chapter-Seven bankruptcy case the Milwaukee Archdiocese filed more than a year ago. On another issue, Kelley said she would consider a public release of at least some of the depositions given by former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland and retired Auxiliary Bishop Richard Sklba. Attorneys for abuse victims say the public release would disclose the extent of the priest sex abuse that took place over the last half-century. Kelley said the depositions would have names blacked out so victims are not identified. Suspected abusers who have not been previously identified would not have their names come out, either. The Milwaukee Archdiocese is comprised of ten southeastern Wisconsin counties, including Dodge County.

2^nd Annual Derby Day Fundraiser Tomorrow

5/4/12 - There will be a “Run For The Roses” in Beaver Dam tomorrow (Sat) as a Kentucky Derby-themed fundraiser is planned to help fund an important women’s health program. The Beaver Dam Community Hospital is hosting their Second Annual Derby Day fundraising gala. Organizers say Derby Day is a re-creation of the Kentucky Derby that allows participants to witness a premier viewing of the first jewel in the Triple Crown, with all the festivities that come with it.  Connie Knight with the hospital’s Breast Health Program, says the funds raised tomorrow will be used for a Stereotactic Breast Biopsy System. Knight says the technology allows women to undergo the minimally invasive procedure without traveling to Madison. Only local anesthesia is used and results of the biopsy are available in a timely manner.  Tickets are $60 and include dinner and hors d’oeuvres, with all the proceeds going toward the Breast Health Program. The event also includes a raffle, live and silent auction and even a “Derby Hat” auction. Tickets will be available at the Old Hickory Golf Club. The bugle sounds at 3:30pm.

Nancy’s Notions Day Two

5/4/12 - Nancy’s Notions President and founder Nancy Zieman says her annual Sewing Expo has been a great way for her stay in contact with her customers and find new inspiration. Over 3000 sewing enthusiasts are expected throughout the course of the three-day expo, which is got underway Thursday. Zieman says 300 people turned out in 1985 when she held the grand opening of her first official warehouse in Beaver Dam. She says there’ll be more creative people in Beaver Dam this weekend than any other place in the country. She also expressed her thanks to local residents for their kindness and courtesy in helping out-of-towners find their way around the city and “rolling out the welcome mat.”

Heavy Traffic Expected This Weekend

5/4/12 - One of Wisconsin’s busiest roads could have some traffic tie-ups this weekend, when the fishing season begins. The D-O-T says drivers should allow extra time if they use the Wisconsin River bridge on Interstate 39-90-94 south of Portage. There’s construction work in the bridge area – and while the road is open, only two lanes are being used for traffic in each direction instead of the normal three. Officials also remind drivers they can get up-to-the-minute road reports by calling 5-1-1 or going online to 511WI-Dot-Gov.

BD Conservation Club Is Club of the Year

5/4/12 - The Beaver Dam Conservation Club has been named Conservation Club of the Year.  The local organization located on County Highway G was established in 1933. The Wisconsin Conservation Congress will recognize the Club at their Annual Convention next Friday in Manitowoc. Beaver Dam Conservationists President Dan McDermott says the recognition is quite an honor.  McDermott says one of his proudest accomplishments of the organization is the trap team assembled at the Beaver Dam High School last year. McDermott says the high school club attended its first tournament of the year this past weekend and placed third out of 118 teams. That earned the club $6500 for their endowment fund.

The following is a summary of the first tournament of the year for the high school trap team: The Beaver Dam #1 team finished in 3rd place out of 118 teams. The #1 Team members are Kraig Semple, Tyler Lepple, Colton Anderson, Hunter Hiley and Dave Mannel. The trophy will be at the gun club this week for all to see. Colton Anderson won third place in Varsity Boys with his 96 and Nolan Weinberger won 2nd place in Class AA with his 82. This was out of a total of 525 shooters. In the High Over, all top five trap scores combined with our top 3 wobble scores earned 4th place and $2500.00 to our endowment fund. The top 5 trap scores were Colton Anderson 96, Tyler Lepple 93, Kraig Semple 92, Hunter Hiley 88, and Justin Zuhlke 88. The top 3 wobble scores were Andre Kuzniewicz 12, Colton Anderson 10, and Bailey Buschke 8. Bailey Buschke was in 8th place in Intermediate boys and Stacy Rauscher was in 10th place in Varsity girls. All total the team earned $6500.00 for our endowment fund.

Top Stories May 3rd

Portion of Highway 41 Closed Due to Rain

5/3/12 - Part of a busy four-lane expressway is closed between Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, because of the heavy rains that fell there overnight. Highway 41 is closed in both directions for a six-mile stretch between Highway 26 in Winnebago County and Highway “N” in Fond du Lac County. Over four-inches of rain fell in the area last night and early today. Nearby Green Lake recorded the most, with four-point-three-seven inches. And there’s more where that came from. The National Weather Service says more strong thunderstorms are in the forecast for later today – and rain is expected to continue on-and-off at least into the weekend.

BDFD Approved For New Pumper Truck

5/3/12 - The Beaver Dam Police and Fire Commission approved the purchase of a new pumper truck last night. The department has tried for years to replace the dated 1977 model currently in use as a backup. The $590,000 expenditure was part of the most recent budget cycle. The commission approved a low bid from Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton at a cost of $561,000. Chief Alan Mannel says the full budgeted amount will still be needed to cover the costs of stocking the truck with the necessary equipment.  The new purchase will be dual purpose; built for use as a rescue pumper but also for agricultural and industrial responses. Such trucks are custom made and will not be delivered to the department until years end.

BDPD Charging For Processing Time In Records Requests

5/3/12 - The Beaver Dam Police Department is increasing the costs of open records requests that take several hours or days to process. The department established a fee schedule back in 2010 that covers things like photocopy and digital media costs related to the requests. Chief Ron Smith gained approval from the Police and Fire Commission last night that allows the department to fund time-consuming requests that drain department resources. At the advisement of the city attorney, Smith learned state statute permits charging for personnel hours spent processing a request. The extra costs will only be charged after the department spends more than $50 on an open records request and then it will be based on the lowest paid clerks hourly salary plus benefits.

Drug Drop In Columbus Friday Morning

5/3/12 - A prescription drug “take-back” will be held in Columbus Friday morning.  The Columbus Community Hospital is teaming up with the police department in holding the drug drop.  Organizers say take-back programs are aimed at reducing the amount of unused pharmaceuticals entering the water supply, and also reducing the amount of drugs available for theft or accidental poisoning. Medications should be brought in original containers with the personal identification blanked out or removed. Loose medications will also be accepted. There is no cost to dispose of the unused or expired over-the-counter and prescription medications. Hours tomorrow are 6am to 9am at the Columbus Community Hospital main entrance.

Dodge County Participating In Click It Or Ticket

5/3/12 - The Dodge County Sheriffs Department is among the law enforcement agencies in the state that will be participating in the annual spring “Click It Or Ticket” campaign. The effort begins on May 21 and is intended to get more Wisconsinites to buckle-up. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says officers will stop vehicles when they see either a driver or a passenger not wearing a shoulder harness. Last year’s two-week campaign resulted in 85-thousand convictions for not wearing seat-belts. It’s the second most common infraction behind speeding. Officials say 79-percent of Wisconsinites normally buckle-up – behind the national average of 85-percent. The campaign will run through June 3.

Marquette Poll: Barrett Leads Falk, Ties Walker

A new Marquette Law School poll gives Tom Barrett a 17-point lead over Kathleen Falk for next Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the governor’s recall election. Seven-hundred-five Wisconsinites were interviewed by phone from last Thursday through Sunday – and 38-percent of them favored Milwaukee Mayor Barrett to 21-percent for Falk, the former Dane County executive. 19-percent were undecided, over twice as many as those supporting the third-place Democrat, Doug La Follette with eight-percent. Kathleen Vinehout had six-percent. The poll also revealed a dead heat between Barrett and Republican Governor Scott Walker in the general recall election. Among likely voters, Barrett led Walker 48-47. And among all registered voters in the poll, Walker led Barrett 47-46. Poll director Charles Franklin said it’s as close of a tie as possible. In both instances, Falk was about six points behind Walker. That’s beyond the poll’s error margin of four-percent either way. Tuesday’s primary also includes fake Democrats which guarantee primaries for every race. Republicans did it so they wouldn’t risk an incumbent senator losing due to an expected high turnout for the Democratic gubernatorial primary. But 57-percent in the poll opposed the strategy. 46-percent said jobs are the top factor in choosing a candidate. Fifty-eight percent said they talked about politics with their families-and-friends at least once a week – but 29-percent said they stopped talking to somebody about politics due to disagreements about the recall or Governor Walker.

Walker Announces New Jobs at Spancrete

5/3/12 - Thirty new jobs are being added at Spancrete’s facility in Manitowoc. Governor Scott Walker’s office made the announcement Wednesday, but it did not say whether the firm would get state tax credits. Spancrete is based in Waukesha. It makes pre-cast concrete materials and versatile building materials. The company recently brought back the employees who were laid off earlier. And Spancrete plans to hire 30 new workers over the next 45 days to keep up with a higher workload that’s expected over the next few months.

Low Income Health Insurance Premiums Going Up

5/3/12 - Thousands of low-income Wisconsinites are about to get letters warning that their tax-funded health insurance will rise on July first. That’s after the federal government gave its final approval last week to the Walker administration’s plan to cut Medicaid costs. At a luncheon in Madison today, Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith said two notices would be sent to the affected clients. One gives general information about the premium hikes. The other letter will go out in mid-June, telling people exactly how much more they’ll have to pay. Smith said the rates hikes were about fairness. He said the federal government’s approval will allow premiums to be close to what families around the nation would have to pay under President Obama’s health reform law. Officials estimate that around 17-thousand people would either leave the state’s Badger-Care-Plus health care program, or be turned away. Robert Kraig of Wisconsin Citizen Action said those people will end up going to hospital emergency rooms. He said it would save the state government money, but it would result in a greater use of more expensive care for the un-insured.

Wisconsin Bats Not Yet Affected By Fungal Disease

5/3/12 - The state D-N-R has re-affirmed that Wisconsin has not been struck yet by a fungal disease that has killed millions of bats. Wildlife personnel recently surveyed over 100 places where bats hibernate during the winter, plus 114 other sites – and they’ve found no traces of white nose syndrome in Wisconsin’s bat population. That’s good news for us humans, because bats play a vital role in killing mosquitoes and other insects – thus reducing the risk that folks will get bug-borne illnesses like West Nile. Experts say white nose syndrome causes bats to wake up early during hibernation, and it depletes them of their energy reserves. Federal officials say the disease has killed almost seven-million bats in the eastern U-S and Canada. D-N-R biologist Paul White said last month that the closest reported white nose cases were in Missouri and Ontario. And while the state can try some management ideas, there’s no real way to stop the disease – and it will get to the Badger State eventually. White says more mosquito bites could be a tell-tale sign. U-W Madison scientists discovered last fall that a European fungus causes white nose syndrome. It was never spotted in the U-S until about six years ago.

Top Stories May 2nd

Town of Elba Fire Cause ‘Undetermined’

5/2/12 - The State Fire Marshalls Office has not been able to determine the cause of a fire that caused extensive damage to a home in the town of Elba last month. The agency did say that it cannot rule out that the fire was electrical in nature. Five fire departments helped battle the blaze along Highway 151 on Easter Sunday. Flames were shooting out of several windows when crews arrived on scene.  The home was owned by David and Donna Maier but no one was inside at the time and there were no injuries. 

Adamson: ‘Most Pills In Pharmacy Break-In Anti-Depressants’

5/2/12 - Horicon Police Chief Joe Adamson says the vast majority of the pills stolen in this weekend’s break-in at Marshland Pharmacy were non-narcotic antidepressants with little or no street value. Adamson did say that some of the approximately 10,000 pills were highly potent and addictive Schedule II drugs like Oxycontin and Morphine which have a street value of $20 to $25 each. He says his officers are working diligently to make sure the pills stay off the street. A rock was used to break the front window and gain entrance into the building early Sunday morning. Anyone with information should contact the Horicon Police Department.

Woman Injured in Highway 151 Accident

5/2/12 - A Fond du Lac woman was seriously hurt in a two-vehicle accident yesterday afternoon in the town of Trenton.  It happened about four miles north of Beaver Dam on Highway 151.  Authorities say 67-year-old Mark Dalton was driving north when his truck was struck from behind by a minivan driven by 35-year-old Laurie Ebert.  Flight for Life took Ebert to UW-Hospital in Madison.  Dalton was not injured.  The crash is still under investigation. 

NJ Governor Campaigns for Walker

5/2/12 - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie appeared in Green Bay and Oak Creek yesterday, to urge voters to keep his fellow Republican Governor Scott Walker in office for his full term. Walker faces a recall election on June fifth. And Christie said that over the next five weeks, Wisconsin would answer the question of what’s more powerful – the people or quote, “the moneyed special interests of Washington D-C.” Christie said Walker stood with Wisconsinites a year ago, when he fought off opponents of the new law which virtually eliminated most public union bargaining in the Badger State. And now, Christie said those opponents are trying to reverse the exercise of democracy from 2010 when Walker was elected. Both Democratic front-runners in next week’s gubernatorial primary slammed Christie’s appearance. Tom Barrett says Christie and Walker are quote, “darlings of the national right-wing elite.” Kathleen Falk said both have extreme records, and they don’t share the values of Wisconsin residents.

La Crosse Men Facing Murder and Attempted Murder Charges

5/2/12 - Two La Crosse men are being held under one-million-dollar bonds, after being charged with what police called a senseless drive-by shooting with no motive – and a random murder 15 minutes later. Prosecutors said 21-year-old Pao Vue shot four times at the home of an 83-year-old La Crosse woman during her birthday celebration on the afternoon of March 30th. And then, police said Vue’s 19-year-old nephew Kong randomly entered Sara Hougom’s unlocked apartment, went after her purse, and shot the 20-year-old Hougom twice when he saw her move on her couch. Both defendants are charged with homicide and attempted homicide, and they made their first court appearances yesterday. In the drive-by shooting, the bullets entered the woman’s home, but none of the three people inside were hurt. Prosecutors said Kong Vue was not intoxicated at the time of the ensuing murder – and his only motive was that he needed money from someone. Officers found matching shell casings at both crime scenes. And surveillance video from nearby businesses showed that Kong Vue’s car was at both places around the times of the incidents.

BD Chief Optimistic About Police Database 

5/2/12 - Beaver Dam Police Chief Ron Smith is eager to have his department linked to a planned county-wide, law enforcement computer database. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls is working on a centralized system of information sharing officially called a Records Management System, or RMS. Chief Smith says he feels it is very important that law enforcement throughout the county are able to access and share names, photos, contact information, and any related case status on suspects, perpetrators and victims. Smith says he would also like Beaver Dam to invest in a component that would allow for a digital crime mapping system. He says that would have helped in investigating the dozens of vandalism complaints that have been reported over the past several weeks by crunching numbers in a way only computers can; like determining the geographical center of a crime spree and making predictive analysis. The Sheriff says he has been in contact with vendors and is reviewing the options. One plan under review would allow the county to keep its current system and extend an invitation to municipal agencies to sign-on while another would require purchase a whole new RMS system. The sheriff says they plan to make a decision soon and have a Records Management System in place by 2014.  

Farm City Day Is Thursday

5/2/12 - Dodge County 4-H is holding their 33^rd Annual Farm-City Day on Thursday.  More than 700 fourth grade students from public and parochial schools across Dodge County will be converge on the Alvin and Roger Hildebrandt Family Farm near Hustisford.  Sally Schoenike, 4-H Youth Development Agent, says it’s an excellent opportunity for kids to learn about agriculture as the students will see displays and demonstrations on dairy farming, crops, farm economics and nutrition.  Cows, sheep, chickens and goats will be among the farm animals rounded up for the students to view.  The farm includes 960-acres of crops, including corn and soybeans. They also milk a herd of 80-cows. 

Beaver Dam Bulk Truck Site Has Moved

5/2/12 - Beaver Dam residents have a new location to drop-off bulk garbage. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says the city has moved the bulk truck site from the DPW garage on South Center to the Wastewater Treatment Facility grounds located off Cooper Street on Myrtle Road at Beltline Drive. The drop-off dates 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. City officials caution that the service is available only to city residents and users should be prepared to show proof of address.

Mega Million Up to $118M

5/2/12 - Nobody won the Mega Millions’ jackpot last night, so it goes up to 118-million dollars for the next drawing on Friday. Nobody from Wisconsin won the quarter-million-dollar second prize, either. Last night’s numbers were 24, 27, 31, 45, and 52. The Mega Ball was 38, and the Megaplier was four. The current jackpot has rolled over nine times. It’s been building since March 30th, when a world record 656-million-dollar prize was claimed by three winners. Friday’s cash option is just under 87-million-dollars. In Powerball, the jackpot for tonight is at 50-million.

Top Stories May 1st

A Knoble Cause: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Fundraiser

5/1/12 - A Columbus woman is in the running to be the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Woman of the Year.” Five women and five men are nominated to the campaign each year and whoever raises the most money is given the designation of Man or Woman of the Year. Ashley Knoble of Columbus is affiliated with the Madison region but could compete on the national level if she wins. Her goal is to raise $40,000. Last years national winner pulled in $150,000 for the society. Knoble was inspired to accept the challenge because of her children’s babysitter. Jessica Breunig, a senior at Columbus High School, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma on March of 2011, not long after Knoble’s aunt died of cancer. The Madison-area Man and Woman of the Year will be announced at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Gala at the Concourse Hotel in Madison on June 1. Knoble has held a number of fundraisers and she still has several more planned, including a Dine and Donate night tonight at the Hydro Street Brewery in Columbus starting at 5pm. This Thursday, there will be a celebrity bachelor and bachelorette auction at Brocah in Madison. A pig roast is also planned in Lake Geneva on May 19. All donations are tax-deductible. Contact Knoble on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/CampaigningForaCureTeamAshley

Or e-mail:  aknoblephoto@gmail.com

Watertown Man Accused of Hospice Morphine Theft

5/1/12 - A Watertown man is accused of stealing morphine from his dying father-in-law. Marc Eichstaedt is charged with felony Theft and Possession of Narcotic Drugs which carry a maximum sentence of up to nine-and-a-half years in prison, upon conviction. According to the criminal complaint, police responded to a death investigation at his Town of Shields home in March. Eichstaedt’s father-in-law was in hospice at the residence and had been given 20 syringes of morphine; 14 were reported missing. While deputies were conducting their investigation, it reportedly took Eichstaedt 20 minutes to get out of bed and go to the bathroom. He then returned to his bedroom. Eichstaed’s wife retrieved him a second time; he reportedly sat on the couch unable to answer questions though he did ask for a cup of coffee. The 54-year-old also wrote a statement for investigators…in shorthand. Deputies say he appeared to be under the influence of drugs during questioning. He was asked the next day to submit to a drug test but said it would not be necessary and allegedly confessed to taking the syringes…and also stealing pills from his father-in-law…and also replacing all the rest of his morphine with water. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a judge will decide June 7 if there is enough evidence to order a trial.

Reeseville Man Faces Fleeing Charges

5/1/12 - A Reeseville man has been charged in connection with a weekend traffic pursuit in Beaver Dam. Jesse Nelson is charged with felony Fleeing an Officer. Police were on the lookout for Nelson’s vehicle early Saturday morning 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.

Van Beek Sentenced For Teen Assaults

5/1/12 -   A Fox Lake man who raped as many four teenage girls will spend seven years in prison. 22-year-old Derick Van Beek was also sentenced Monday to seven years of extended supervision and placed on probation for seven years. On March 6, Derick Van Beek pleaded “no contest” to two counts of Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 16 and had four similar felonies dismissed but read into the record. The offenses are said to have occurred in the spring and summer of 2010 and involved four different girls who were between the ages of 13 and 15-years-old. In one case, the victim says she tried to push Van Beek off of her. In another incident, the criminal complaint states that the victim resisted but Van Beek pushed her down, held her with his hands so that she could not get up and forced himself on her. The 22-year-old was also said to be controlling, forcing the girls to delete all male contacts from their cell phones and delete their social networking profiles. Van Beek was out on a $5000 cash bond awaiting sentencing when he was pulled over on March 27 by a Dodge County Sheriffs Deputy on routine patrol. As a condition of bond, Van Beek is prohibited from having contact with females under the age of 18. Authorities say he was in the company of two girls, ages 13 and 14. The girls were allegedly friends of his adult male passenger who reportedly did not have a driver’s license and Van Beek was just doing them a favor by driving them to a friend’s house. He pleaded “not guilty” to those charges at arraignment last month. As for the charges settled yesterday, Van Beek was also ordered to attend sex offender counseling and register as a lifetime sex offender.

Beaver Dam Garage Destroyed By Fire

5/1/12 - Fire destroyed a one-car garage Monday morning in Beaver Dam.  It was called in around at 8am at 106 East Davis Street.  When firefighters arrived on scene the building was fully engulfed in smoke, and flames could be seen shooting out of the back.  They were able to get the fire knocked down within 10-minutes.  It’s believed some gardening tools and a lawnmower were inside the garage.  No one was injured. Fire crews were on scene for 75-minutes.  Investigators are still trying to determine how it started. 

Gas Prices Lower than a Year Ago

5/1/12 - On average gas prices in the state are more than 20-cents cheaper right now than they were a year ago at this time.  That’s according to wisconsingasprices.com, who says a gallon of unleaded regular can be had for $3.84 today, down from $4 last month and $4.07 from last year.  It’s even cheaper in Beaver Dam, where prices dropped to $3.69 yesterday. On May 2^nd of last year, gas was going for $3.99 in the city.  Also today, it’s $3.71 in Reeseville and $3.74 in Horicon, while Waupun is at $3.77.  Nationally, gas is at $3.80 on average. 

Walker Unveils Milwaukee Jobs Plan

5/1/12 - Governor Scott Walker said he will not use direct tax revenues to pay for a 100-million-dollar plan to bring jobs and new residents to Milwaukee’s poorest areas. The Republican Walker announced a five-point plan Monday to revive inner city areas – especially an industrial corridor where many industrial buildings have long been vacant. The main goals include adding two-thousand jobs to those areas, and getting people to move into many homes which are now vacant due to foreclosure. The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority would sell tax-exempt bonds to private investors, with the proceeds to provide things like business expansions, new apartments, and more transportation to the area. Buyers of those bonds would be exempt from state-and-local taxes. And the Journal Sentinel says it would let developers and business reduce their borrowing costs, thus making it a tax subsidy. Economic authority secretary Wyman Winston says the project has been in the works for a year. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett told a news conference today that he’s pleased the governor wants to work with the city on creating jobs. But he questioned the timing of Walker’s announcement, coming 36 days before he stands for a recall election. Barrett is a Democratic candidate for that election. He faces three other Democrats in next week’s primary.

Falk Calls For Replacement of DNR Secretary

5/1/12 - Democratic candidate for governor Kathleen Falk says Scott Walker should replace his D-N-R secretary. Falk said Cathy Stepp should leave, after the Wisconsin State Journal said the numbers of violations of state environmental permits last year dropped to a 12-year low. D-N-R officials blamed job vacancies in their agency – and a new emphasis on compliance rather than prosecutions. Stepp was quoted in the State Journal’s Sunday article as saying she wants the agency to focus on customer service. Falk is a former state Public Intervener, who represented the public’s interest in environmental lawsuits before the post was abolished a number of years ago. Falk said the Republican Walker has quote, “turned our environmental watchdog into a lapdog.” The Walker campaign and the D-N-R said they did not have immediate comments. Falk is one of four Democrats running in the Walker recall primary next Tuesday.

Cream Cheese Winners From Throughout Region

5/1/12 - Judging by the winners of this weekend’s Midwest Cream Cheese Competition, the event at the Beaver Dam Home and Business Expo drew participants from around the region. The Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce-sponsored competition held in conjunction with Kraft Foods rewarded winners with a top prize of $250 in each of three categories. The winner in the Greatest Cream Cheese Dip category was Angela Rieger of Wisconsin Dells. First place for Ultimate Cheesecake went to David Doepke of Milwaukee.  Pauline Brennescholtz of Beaver Dam took home the top prize in the category of Best New Cream Cheese Recipe for her Krafty Chocolate Pie. Beaver Dam was well represented among second and third place finishers along with Columbus, Fall River and Milton. Winners and runners-up are included in a book comprised of recipes from the past eight years worth of cream cheese competitions.