Dodge County Roads Slippery and Snow-Covered
12/06/08 - Numerous run-offs have been reported to Dodge County authorities since the snow began falling last night. Dodge County Highway Department Supervisor Chuck Bernhard says the roads are snow-covered and slippery this morning. Crews were out on the Class 1 roads since 9pm last night and work began on the county roads at 5am this morning. Drifting is expected to be an issue all day. The weather forecast for today calls for blustery conditions with areas of blowing snow. Temperatures will fall into the teens during the afternoon hours. There are gusty winds in the forecast for this evenings holiday parades in Beaver Dam and Fox Lake.
Randolph Man Charged in Dane County High Speed Chase
12/06/08 - Six years ago Brian Hron's speeding caused a wreck that killed 16-year-old Jessica Mancheski. That apparently hasn't slowed the driving habits of the 24-year-old Randolph man. He could be sent back to prison when he returns to court next month. That Dane County hearing comes in connection with Hron's latest high-speed chase where a deputy says he reached 120 miles per hour. Authorities want Hron to return to prison. He's been arrested for speeding at least twice since the fatal crash in 2002.
Gilbertson Waives Prelim
12/06/08 - A Watertown man accused of causing an accident that left two people hospitalized has waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Christopher J. Gilbertson of Watertown is charged with a felony count of Injury By Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle related to the October 28th wreck. Authorities say the 24-year-old was intoxicated when blew through a stop sign at the intersection of Silver Creek Road and Highway 26, striking a southbound vehicle on the front left drivers side. The two occupants of the oncoming vehicle were taken to Watertown Memorial Hospital for treatment of their injuries. Gilbertson was treated for a few scrapes at the scene. He was also given a breathalyzer, which showed he had a preliminary blood alcohol content of (point) .2-0, more than twice the legal limit. Gilbertson has an arraignment hearing scheduled for December 10.
BD Burglary Suspect Bound Over
12/06/08 - One of the suspects arrested following recent burglaries at two area businesses appeared for an preliminary hearing Thursday in Dodge County court. Judge Andrew Bissonnette found probable cause for Trevor Waller of Stoughton to be bound over for trial on charges of felony Burglary. Arraignment will be held January 2. The 27-year-old was arrested in connection with the October 28 break-ins at Beaver Plumbing and Kelm Painting. Earlier this week, 23-year-old Kurtis Billings of Orfordville entered a “not guilty” plea to similar charges. Tabatha Pellett has her prelim on December 18.
Traffic Deaths Down Statewide - Up Countywide
12/06/08 - Wisconsin traffic deaths for most of this year have been at their lowest since World War Two – and last month was no exception. Thirty-nine people were killed in November, that’s 16 less than a year ago. Seven people died in Wisconsin crashes during the Thanksgiving weekend, down from 16 last year. From January-through-November, 543 people have been killed in state traffic mishaps. And it looks like the final total will be well below the average for the last five years of 774 fatalities. It’s a different story in Dodge County where there has been 17 traffic deaths so far this year, three higher than all of last year. With the holidays coming up, the state D-O-T is starting a campaign called “Booze-and-Belts” to encourage sober driving and buckling up. About 200 law enforcement agencies around the state are getting state grants to put more officers on the roads during the campaign.
Exam Ordered for Alvarez Death Threat Suspect
12/06/08 - A man accused of making death threats to U-W Athletic Director Barry Alvarez has been ordered to take a mental competency exam. Leonard Taylor was arrested in Indiana last Friday. He made his first court appearance in Dane County on Thursday, on charges of stalking and telephone harassment. The 32 year-old Taylor allegedly made more than 20 calls to the athletic department threatening Alvarez and his family. Taylor's father says his son suffers from paranoid-schizophrenia and his been off his medication. Taylor played for the Badgers from 1995 to 1998, while Alvarez was the head football coach.
Shawano City Officials On Edge Following Death Threats
12/06/08 - The mayor of Shawano didn't ride in last night's Santa parade. Lorna Marquardt says she just wishes the situation was over. The FBI is still investigating some implied threats allegedly aimed at local political figures. Shawano Police Chief Ed Whealon has said a person with connections to the Shawano-based Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology is responsible. No arrests have been made. The FBI notified 60 city and county officials they were potential victims. The implied threat was discovered during an FBI probe. No other details have been released.
Homicides Up Statewide in ‘07
12/06/08 - The Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance reports homicides were up almost 11-percent in the state last year. One hundred-83 homicides were reported in 2007, compared to 165 the year before. That's a rate of 3-point-2 homicides per 100-thousand Wisconsin residents. The national average is 5-point-6 per 100-thousand. Sixty-three percent of the homicides involved the use of a gun. Investigators made an arrest in 84-percent of the cases. The national clearance rate is 61-percent.
Sexual Assault Cases High on UW Campuses
12/06/08 - A new survey shows a high rate of sexual assault on Wisconsin college campuses, but the real numbers may be greater. Kelly Anderson of Dane County's Rape Crisis Center says the numbers are probably higher than the voluntary survey of 13-thousand UW System students indicates. The questions on sexual assault were just part of a Campus Climate Assessment, conducted by a Pennsylvania-based consulting firm, Rankin and Associates. The survey's findings, that few of the assaults were reported to police and that most involved female freshman students within their first six weeks on campus, don't come as a surprise to Anderson, who called those responses "completely typical." She says incoming students are particularly vulnerable - especially in situations where alcohol is concerned. Anderson hopes the campuses use the information to come up with new services for sexual assault victims.
Columbus Tax Rate Drops $4 since 2002
12/06/08 - When Columbus residents receive their tax bill this year they can be happy with the lower municipal “mil rate.” According to City Administration, property owners will see a mill rate lowered for the fourth year in a row. The City Budget was approved after the Council removed the money designated for a dozen line items from the proposed Budget and shifted it into a contingency fund. The final budget will result in property owners seeing their mil rate decrease from $9.35 last year to $8 per $1,000 dollars in 2009.
DC United Way Fundraising On Pace
12/06/08 - Fundraising efforts for the United Way of Dodge County are keeping pace with last year’s numbers. That’s according to Executive Director Donna Genereaux who says the agency has taken in approximately $180,000, as of Friday, which is 60% of their goal of $225,000. The United Way of Dodge County has approved funding for next year for 50 programs and services provided by 24 partnered agencies, including PAVE, The Parent Resource Place, the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Church Health Services and Green Valley Enterprises. United Way fundraising efforts in some other communities are not faring as well. Donations to the Fond du Lac Area United Way are down about 10 percent from last year’s levels. United Way Executive Director Tina Potter says they may not seem like a lot, but it amounts to about $45,000, which only hurts the many families that depend upon the services of the 17 agencies they help fund. So far about $444,000 has been contributed towards the $800,000 goal that was set.
Fitzgerald Reappointed to ALEC
12/06/08 - Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald has been reappointed Wisconsin State Chairman for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The Republican from Juneau says he is “honored to serve another term as State Chairman for ALEC.” For more than 30 years, ALEC has served as a resource for state legislators across the country as they try to solve the problems facing each state. Fitzgerald says ALEC is an ideal setting for developing free market public policy solutions that put a premium on protecting individual freedom. ALEC is the nation’s largest nonpartisan membership organization of state legislators, with nearly 2,400 members across the nation. As state chair, Sen. Fitzgerald will appoint legislators to serve on many of the ALEC National Task Forces dealing with Civil Justice; Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development; Criminal Justice and Homeland Security; Education; Health and Human Services; Natural Resources; Tax and Fiscal Policy; and Telecommunications and Information Technology.
Lake Delton Filling Up
12/06/08 - Less than six months after heavy rains caused a breach in the lake that drained it, water is returning to Lake Delton. Governor Jim Doyle dedicated the repaired section of Highway A that was washed out by the floods Friday. Doyle says it's amazing the work was able to be completed so quickly. Getting Lake Delton ready to be refilled involved re-building the section of shoreline breached by flood waters and re-configuring the lake's dam. Doyle says it was an effort between several state agencies and local officials in charge of Lake Delton and the Wisconsin Dells tourism industry. Officials hope to have lake levels restored by next spring. The lake will be filled to an average depth of about seven feet over the next few months and then monitored. The plan is to allow melting snow in the spring fill the lake up the rest of the way.
12/06/08 - Numerous run-offs have been reported to Dodge County authorities since the snow began falling last night. Dodge County Highway Department Supervisor Chuck Bernhard says the roads are snow-covered and slippery this morning. Crews were out on the Class 1 roads since 9pm last night and work began on the county roads at 5am this morning. Drifting is expected to be an issue all day. The weather forecast for today calls for blustery conditions with areas of blowing snow. Temperatures will fall into the teens during the afternoon hours. There are gusty winds in the forecast for this evenings holiday parades in Beaver Dam and Fox Lake.
Randolph Man Charged in Dane County High Speed Chase
12/06/08 - Six years ago Brian Hron's speeding caused a wreck that killed 16-year-old Jessica Mancheski. That apparently hasn't slowed the driving habits of the 24-year-old Randolph man. He could be sent back to prison when he returns to court next month. That Dane County hearing comes in connection with Hron's latest high-speed chase where a deputy says he reached 120 miles per hour. Authorities want Hron to return to prison. He's been arrested for speeding at least twice since the fatal crash in 2002.
Gilbertson Waives Prelim
12/06/08 - A Watertown man accused of causing an accident that left two people hospitalized has waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Christopher J. Gilbertson of Watertown is charged with a felony count of Injury By Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle related to the October 28th wreck. Authorities say the 24-year-old was intoxicated when blew through a stop sign at the intersection of Silver Creek Road and Highway 26, striking a southbound vehicle on the front left drivers side. The two occupants of the oncoming vehicle were taken to Watertown Memorial Hospital for treatment of their injuries. Gilbertson was treated for a few scrapes at the scene. He was also given a breathalyzer, which showed he had a preliminary blood alcohol content of (point) .2-0, more than twice the legal limit. Gilbertson has an arraignment hearing scheduled for December 10.
BD Burglary Suspect Bound Over
12/06/08 - One of the suspects arrested following recent burglaries at two area businesses appeared for an preliminary hearing Thursday in Dodge County court. Judge Andrew Bissonnette found probable cause for Trevor Waller of Stoughton to be bound over for trial on charges of felony Burglary. Arraignment will be held January 2. The 27-year-old was arrested in connection with the October 28 break-ins at Beaver Plumbing and Kelm Painting. Earlier this week, 23-year-old Kurtis Billings of Orfordville entered a “not guilty” plea to similar charges. Tabatha Pellett has her prelim on December 18.
Traffic Deaths Down Statewide - Up Countywide
12/06/08 - Wisconsin traffic deaths for most of this year have been at their lowest since World War Two – and last month was no exception. Thirty-nine people were killed in November, that’s 16 less than a year ago. Seven people died in Wisconsin crashes during the Thanksgiving weekend, down from 16 last year. From January-through-November, 543 people have been killed in state traffic mishaps. And it looks like the final total will be well below the average for the last five years of 774 fatalities. It’s a different story in Dodge County where there has been 17 traffic deaths so far this year, three higher than all of last year. With the holidays coming up, the state D-O-T is starting a campaign called “Booze-and-Belts” to encourage sober driving and buckling up. About 200 law enforcement agencies around the state are getting state grants to put more officers on the roads during the campaign.
Exam Ordered for Alvarez Death Threat Suspect
12/06/08 - A man accused of making death threats to U-W Athletic Director Barry Alvarez has been ordered to take a mental competency exam. Leonard Taylor was arrested in Indiana last Friday. He made his first court appearance in Dane County on Thursday, on charges of stalking and telephone harassment. The 32 year-old Taylor allegedly made more than 20 calls to the athletic department threatening Alvarez and his family. Taylor's father says his son suffers from paranoid-schizophrenia and his been off his medication. Taylor played for the Badgers from 1995 to 1998, while Alvarez was the head football coach.
Shawano City Officials On Edge Following Death Threats
12/06/08 - The mayor of Shawano didn't ride in last night's Santa parade. Lorna Marquardt says she just wishes the situation was over. The FBI is still investigating some implied threats allegedly aimed at local political figures. Shawano Police Chief Ed Whealon has said a person with connections to the Shawano-based Samanta Roy Institute of Science and Technology is responsible. No arrests have been made. The FBI notified 60 city and county officials they were potential victims. The implied threat was discovered during an FBI probe. No other details have been released.
Homicides Up Statewide in ‘07
12/06/08 - The Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance reports homicides were up almost 11-percent in the state last year. One hundred-83 homicides were reported in 2007, compared to 165 the year before. That's a rate of 3-point-2 homicides per 100-thousand Wisconsin residents. The national average is 5-point-6 per 100-thousand. Sixty-three percent of the homicides involved the use of a gun. Investigators made an arrest in 84-percent of the cases. The national clearance rate is 61-percent.
Sexual Assault Cases High on UW Campuses
12/06/08 - A new survey shows a high rate of sexual assault on Wisconsin college campuses, but the real numbers may be greater. Kelly Anderson of Dane County's Rape Crisis Center says the numbers are probably higher than the voluntary survey of 13-thousand UW System students indicates. The questions on sexual assault were just part of a Campus Climate Assessment, conducted by a Pennsylvania-based consulting firm, Rankin and Associates. The survey's findings, that few of the assaults were reported to police and that most involved female freshman students within their first six weeks on campus, don't come as a surprise to Anderson, who called those responses "completely typical." She says incoming students are particularly vulnerable - especially in situations where alcohol is concerned. Anderson hopes the campuses use the information to come up with new services for sexual assault victims.
Columbus Tax Rate Drops $4 since 2002
12/06/08 - When Columbus residents receive their tax bill this year they can be happy with the lower municipal “mil rate.” According to City Administration, property owners will see a mill rate lowered for the fourth year in a row. The City Budget was approved after the Council removed the money designated for a dozen line items from the proposed Budget and shifted it into a contingency fund. The final budget will result in property owners seeing their mil rate decrease from $9.35 last year to $8 per $1,000 dollars in 2009.
DC United Way Fundraising On Pace
12/06/08 - Fundraising efforts for the United Way of Dodge County are keeping pace with last year’s numbers. That’s according to Executive Director Donna Genereaux who says the agency has taken in approximately $180,000, as of Friday, which is 60% of their goal of $225,000. The United Way of Dodge County has approved funding for next year for 50 programs and services provided by 24 partnered agencies, including PAVE, The Parent Resource Place, the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Church Health Services and Green Valley Enterprises. United Way fundraising efforts in some other communities are not faring as well. Donations to the Fond du Lac Area United Way are down about 10 percent from last year’s levels. United Way Executive Director Tina Potter says they may not seem like a lot, but it amounts to about $45,000, which only hurts the many families that depend upon the services of the 17 agencies they help fund. So far about $444,000 has been contributed towards the $800,000 goal that was set.
Fitzgerald Reappointed to ALEC
12/06/08 - Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald has been reappointed Wisconsin State Chairman for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The Republican from Juneau says he is “honored to serve another term as State Chairman for ALEC.” For more than 30 years, ALEC has served as a resource for state legislators across the country as they try to solve the problems facing each state. Fitzgerald says ALEC is an ideal setting for developing free market public policy solutions that put a premium on protecting individual freedom. ALEC is the nation’s largest nonpartisan membership organization of state legislators, with nearly 2,400 members across the nation. As state chair, Sen. Fitzgerald will appoint legislators to serve on many of the ALEC National Task Forces dealing with Civil Justice; Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development; Criminal Justice and Homeland Security; Education; Health and Human Services; Natural Resources; Tax and Fiscal Policy; and Telecommunications and Information Technology.
Lake Delton Filling Up
12/06/08 - Less than six months after heavy rains caused a breach in the lake that drained it, water is returning to Lake Delton. Governor Jim Doyle dedicated the repaired section of Highway A that was washed out by the floods Friday. Doyle says it's amazing the work was able to be completed so quickly. Getting Lake Delton ready to be refilled involved re-building the section of shoreline breached by flood waters and re-configuring the lake's dam. Doyle says it was an effort between several state agencies and local officials in charge of Lake Delton and the Wisconsin Dells tourism industry. Officials hope to have lake levels restored by next spring. The lake will be filled to an average depth of about seven feet over the next few months and then monitored. The plan is to allow melting snow in the spring fill the lake up the rest of the way.
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