Randolph Man Charged in Cold Case
3/31/09 - Cash bond was set at $750,000 Monday for a Randolph man accused of killing a friend’s wife 29 years ago. Curtis Forbes was in Columbia County Circuit Court on a charge of first-degree murder. The 51-year-old Forbes is accused of killing 18-year-old Marilyn McIntyre at her Columbus residence on March 11, 1980. She was discovered by her husband after he returned home from work; their three-month old son was asleep at the time. McIntyre was beaten, stabbed and strangled. Forbes, who was a close personal friend of the victim’s husband, was initially a person of interest but he fled the state shortly after the murder. The case had gone cold for several years but was reopened in late 2007 at the request of the family. According to the criminal complaint, Forbes was overheard in 2002 saying he took a friend’s wife home from a bar, and she didn’t breathe any more that night. Authorities are linking Forbes to the crime through D-N-A evidence.
Couple Sentenced For Stealing Bike Involved in Fatality
3/31/09 - A Beaver Dam couple will spend three months in jail for stealing and hiding a friend’s motorcycle. The owner of the motorcycle, 46-year-old Michael Zuhlke, died accidentally after getting into an altercation with management at the Kinda Country bar, after blaming management for the missing bike. Jeffrey and Ingrid Koch were found guilty last month of one misdemeanor count of Taking A Vehicle Without Consent related to the April 2008 incident at the Town of Trenton tavern. Zuhlke was fatally injured in a melee with management after falling backward and striking his head on the bumper of a pick-up truck. Authorities say the Koch’s were inebriated when they pushed Zuhlke’s Harley Davidson into an unlocked shed on the tavern premises. The Koch’s received the maximum sentence of 90 days in jail but do have Huber privileges and must maintain absolute sobriety. There were no other charges filed in connection with the death. Dodge County DA Bill Bedker had previously said that he does not see anything in the criminal report that leads him to believe the injuries were intentional.
Watertown Man Charged With Punching Pregnant Woman
3/31/09 - A Watertown man is charged with Attempted First Degree Intentional Homicide of an Unborn Child for allegedly punching his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach in an attempt to kill her fetus. Andrew Masko Lee had a cash bond set at $15,000 Monday in Jefferson County court. The 20-year-old is also charged with felony Reckless Endangerment and Bail Jumping along with two misdemeanors related to the incident last Thursday at a Watertown apartment. Police arrested Masko Lee after investigating reports of a loud argument. According to the criminal complaint, Masko Lee allegedly told the victim, while he was punching her, that he was going to kill the baby. The victim is around four months pregnant. Masko Lee is also accused of throwing her eleven-month-old child to the ground; the infant was apparently not injured. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
Allenton Arsonist Enters Into Agreement
3/31/09 - An Allenton man was convicted Monday of burning down Aidan O’Reilly’s Pub last fall. Scott Friedman pleaded no contest in Washington County court to a charge of felony arson. Counts of Burglary and Reckless Endangerment were dropped in a plea deal. The 35-year-old was a cook at the Allenton pub, and lived above the building, when he broke in to the tavern portion last October and started the fire. Prosecutors say he also stole cash to fund a trip to Florida to see his kids. Friedman was arrested later that same day at the Milwaukee Greyhound Bus station. The blaze caused around $200,000 in damage. One of the other upstairs’ residents was taken to a hospital with a medical problem. Friedman is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14.
CARE Meets Tonight
3/31/09 - A citizens group will be meeting tonight to discuss the next step in their efforts to reopen the Fox Lake Elementary School. Kim Derleeth, with Concerned Area Residents for Education or CARE, says her group is in the process of reeducating residents in the City and Town of Fox Lake about the need for detachment from the Waupun School District, in hopes that they can collect enough signatures to petition to join up with the Randolph School District. Tonight’s meeting will be held at the Fox Lake Community Center at 6:30pm.
Kuenzi Brothers Asking for Mistreatment Charges to be Dropped
3/31/09 - Two brothers accused of running down deer with their snowmobiles say the animal mistreatment laws don’t apply to wild animals. Rory and Robby Kuenzi of Weyauwega have asked a judge to drop those felony counts against them. Their attorneys said the law requires a person to own a victimized animal – and that doesn’t apply to deer in the wild. They quote the law as saying “no person may treat any animal, whether belonging to the person or another, in a cruel manner.” The Kuenzis and Nicholas Hermes face numerous animal mistreatment charges, after the snowmobiles they were riding ran over a half-dozen deer on a Waupaca County trail in January. The dismissal request only applies to the mistreatment counts. All three are also charged with numerous misdemeanors and ordinance violations. Robby Kuenzi is due in court April seventh. Rory Kuenzi – who’s accused of stealing the snowmobile he allegedly used – is scheduled to see a judge on April eighth.
Columbus Discusses Consolidation of Ambulance Services
3/31/09 - Nearly fifty officials from nine Townships, the City of Columbus, and Village of Fall River met last night to discuss consolidating local Ambulance Services into a new District. The meeting was called an “exploratory” discussion asking local officials and EMS providers how “district governance” of 11 municipalities could be fairly represented and how the costs of service should be shared. Municipal leaders voiced cautious optimism toward formation of a new district. Participants’ answers indicated an EMS Paramedic “level of service” was favored; costs for sharing the service would be based on a per capita formula; and that development of a combined EMS District was favored. John Kirchberg, representing the Town of Calamus said he’s anxious to continue talks on EMS consolidation. Village of Fall River representatives were not as enthusiastic to endorse early adoption of any District consolidation. Village officials noted they are in the unique position of already having an EMS. Representatives expressed pride in their current EMS level of service.
Student Collects 2,600 Signatures in Favor of New Drunk Driving Laws
3/31/09 - Over 26-hundred people have signed a youngster’s petitions, urging state leaders to make the much-talked-about crackdowns on drunk drivers. Wausau area student Lexi Zuleger started the petition drive after her junior high school-mate Lacey Meinel was killed in a drunk driving crash. Zuleger said Lacey’s death hurt many people deeply at D-C Everest Junior High. And she was inspired to start the petition drive by a government class that discussed ways to influence political leaders. A plan to require ignition interlocks for second-time drunk drivers – and first-time offenders with double the intoxication limit – is making its way through the Assembly. Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker says the Senate is working on a more coordinated package of reforms. It has not been finalized.
Drug Apparently Cuts Risk of Stroke and Heart Attack
3/31/09 - Wisconsin heart doctors are cautiously optimistic about the creation of a multi-drug pill that cuts the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Canadian scientists tested a pill made up of several current genetic drugs – and it reduced blood pressure and cholesterol levels by around half in middle-aged persons. The bill was called the “Poly-cap,” and Waukesha cardiologist Rob Panther calls it a great idea – especially for those who don’t need to see a doctor too often. He says more tests are needed – but he could see the day when a variety of poly-pills are available. U-W Madison cardiologist James Stein says cost and simplicity are the main advantages. Experts say people are more likely to take a single pill each day, rather than several. But Stein says it would not be good for those at high risk – like diabetics or those with previous heart disease. He says the pre-packaged product would be less likely to meet those patients’ exact needs. A drug company from India paid for the study. The subjects were from that country.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Top Stories March 30th
Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy Week #4: Walk The Line
3/30/09 - Two volunteers spent a couple hours drinking rum as part of an OWI simulation for the most recent session of the Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy. As part of the class, officers walked the cadets through a typical OWI traffic stop. The volunteers were well over the legal limit for driving; they harassed the officers, tried to walk the line and blew into breathalyzer. Beaver Dam Patrol Officer Jim Van Erem says people need to get the message that drinking and driving is deadly, and reaching out to the community through the Citizens Police Academy is one more tool for law enforcement to deliver that message. Citizen Cadet Steve Mindt, an Auxiliary Police Officer for the city of Beaver Dam, says the class has been an eye-opening experience. Next up for the Citizens Police Academy: criminal investigations.
Charges Expected Today in Cold Case
3/30/09 - Formal charges are expected to be field today against the Randolph man accused of murdering a Columbus woman 29 years ago. Curtis Forbes was arrested on charges of First Degree Intentional Homicide following a traffic stop Tuesday evening. The 51-year-old is accused of beating, stabbing and strangling 18-year-old Marilyn McIntyre at her Columbus residence in March of 1980. The case was reopened in late 2007 as investigators had a tool not available in 1980: DNA analysis.
Three Killed in Washington County Accident
3/30/09 - An accident in Washington County yesterday morning took the life of three people, including two kids. The Sheriff’s Department says an SUV carrying seven people on Highway 164 swerved to avoid a flatbed truck that had crossed the centerline and went into the ditch. However, the flatbed went into the ditch as well and slammed into the drivers side door. Killed was 42-year-old Karl Ziebart, his nine-year-old son Luke, along with an unidentified 12-year-old girl from another family. The four remaining passengers in the SUV were seriously hurt. None of three men in the flatbed were injured but were taken to jail on suspicion of being in the U-S illegally.
Watertown Man Facing Attempted Homicide Charges
3/30/09 - A 20-year-old Watertown man is facing felony charges after allegedly punching his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach to kill her fetus. The man is expected in court today on a number of significant felony charges, including the attempted homicide of an unborn child. Police arrested the man on Thursday after investigating reports of a loud argument. Court documents show the man allegedly told the woman, while he was punching her, that he was going to kill the baby. He was jailed over the weekend to allow prosecutors to complete the criminal complaint. The woman is around 14-weeks pregnant.
Acker Denies Accusations
3/30/09 - A Milwaukee area swimming instructor denies having sex with dozens of boys he’s accused of molesting over the last 30 years. 61-year-old Daniel Acker tells the Journal Sentinel he’s not a “predator,” but he has made “poor choices.” He said he struggled with self-doubt and loneliness for years – and he sought comfort in kids who accepted him more. Acker was charged Friday with the sexual assault of a 15-year-old swimming student who’s now 19. More charges are pending, after at least five other men in their 40’s have told police Acker molested them when they were 7-to-18. He remains in jail under a 65-thousand-dollar bond. Acker told the Journal Sentinel he asked the county to have mental experts evaluate him to identify his weaknesses. He said was disappointed with those weaknesses – but he was too ashamed to get help. Acker is an Air Force veteran, and he spent over a quarter-century working as a nursing assistant for the Milwaukee County Health Department. He also spent 31 years as a part-time swim instructor for the West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation Department. Acker said he didn’t have much confidence as a child, but swimming empowered him. And by teaching it to kids, he said he was passing on a skill that could make them safe. Acker is due back in court a week from tomorrow.
Memorial Day Parade Theme Announced
3/30/09 - The theme of the Beaver Dam Memorial Day 2009 Parade will be “Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave.” Lois Levenhagen with the Parade Committee says the theme was chosen to honor veterans and soldiers past and present, who have served or are serving to preserve our country’s freedom. The parade will be held on Monday May 25. The committee is asking service organizations, bands, schools, churches, and others to enter the parade. For more information or to sign up contact Peter Jozefowski at 887-3698 or Lois Levenhagen at 887- 0642.
BDUSD Seeks To Honor Staff
3/30/09 - The Beaver Dam Unified School District is seeking nominations for teacher, administrator and Support Staff of the Year Award program. Awards will presented for Elementary teacher, Middle School teacher, High School teacher, Administrator/ Coordinator, Special Services Teacher, Secretary, Teacher Assistant, Food Service Worker and Custodial/ Maintenance/ Computer Technician. Nominees will be judged primarily on the significance of their contributions to the well-being of the educational community. Representatives selected will be sent to the state teacher and administrator of the year competition. Parents, students and community members who would like to nominate an employee can obtain a nomination form at any Beaver Dam public school office, the Educational Service Center or on the district’s website. The deadline for submitting a nomination form is Monday, April 20.
School Referendums Prevalent on April Ballots
3/30/09 - At a time when folks are scraping for cash, about 30 Wisconsin school districts will ask people to give more of it to them. There are 43 total school referendum questions on next Tuesday’s ballots statewide, including three in Dodge County. Most ask voters to exceed the state’s revenue limits to keep their current programs going. West Bend schools want the okay to borrow almost 69-million dollars for new-and-improved buildings. Superintendent Patricia Herdrich says it’s the perfect time for such a project – since interest costs and construction bids are their lowest in years. But Michael Birkley of the Wisconsin Property Taxpayers’ group says that as more people get laid off, now is the wrong time to ask them to spend more on education. He agrees, though, that the schools need the money by-and-large. West Bend delayed its referendum from last November, which was right after the financial markets collapsed. And some voters say the district should have delayed the issue again.
Teachers Union Backs Evers
3/30/09 - The Wisconsin teachers’ union has thrown its support behind Deputy Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers in his attempt to ascend to the top job. The union, along with a number of other organizations, have backed Evers because of his 34-years of education experience. The last eight have come as second in command to Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster, who will become the new President of Nicolet College after leaving her post at the state level. Evers opponent in the race, Rose Fernandez, is an advocate of virtual schools and is pushing for major reforms within the state education department. The election is a week from tomorrow.
Powerball in the Triple Digits Again
3/30/09 - The Powerball jackpot is above 100-million-dollars for the first time in just over a month. The top prize for Wednesday night’s drawing is 109-million, after nobody won the jackpot on Saturday night. Nobody from Wisconsin won the second-or-third prizes, either. The last jackpot was won on February 28th. Two tickets sold in Delaware and Pennsylvania split the top prize of 174-million dollars.
3/30/09 - Two volunteers spent a couple hours drinking rum as part of an OWI simulation for the most recent session of the Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy. As part of the class, officers walked the cadets through a typical OWI traffic stop. The volunteers were well over the legal limit for driving; they harassed the officers, tried to walk the line and blew into breathalyzer. Beaver Dam Patrol Officer Jim Van Erem says people need to get the message that drinking and driving is deadly, and reaching out to the community through the Citizens Police Academy is one more tool for law enforcement to deliver that message. Citizen Cadet Steve Mindt, an Auxiliary Police Officer for the city of Beaver Dam, says the class has been an eye-opening experience. Next up for the Citizens Police Academy: criminal investigations.
Charges Expected Today in Cold Case
3/30/09 - Formal charges are expected to be field today against the Randolph man accused of murdering a Columbus woman 29 years ago. Curtis Forbes was arrested on charges of First Degree Intentional Homicide following a traffic stop Tuesday evening. The 51-year-old is accused of beating, stabbing and strangling 18-year-old Marilyn McIntyre at her Columbus residence in March of 1980. The case was reopened in late 2007 as investigators had a tool not available in 1980: DNA analysis.
Three Killed in Washington County Accident
3/30/09 - An accident in Washington County yesterday morning took the life of three people, including two kids. The Sheriff’s Department says an SUV carrying seven people on Highway 164 swerved to avoid a flatbed truck that had crossed the centerline and went into the ditch. However, the flatbed went into the ditch as well and slammed into the drivers side door. Killed was 42-year-old Karl Ziebart, his nine-year-old son Luke, along with an unidentified 12-year-old girl from another family. The four remaining passengers in the SUV were seriously hurt. None of three men in the flatbed were injured but were taken to jail on suspicion of being in the U-S illegally.
Watertown Man Facing Attempted Homicide Charges
3/30/09 - A 20-year-old Watertown man is facing felony charges after allegedly punching his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach to kill her fetus. The man is expected in court today on a number of significant felony charges, including the attempted homicide of an unborn child. Police arrested the man on Thursday after investigating reports of a loud argument. Court documents show the man allegedly told the woman, while he was punching her, that he was going to kill the baby. He was jailed over the weekend to allow prosecutors to complete the criminal complaint. The woman is around 14-weeks pregnant.
Acker Denies Accusations
3/30/09 - A Milwaukee area swimming instructor denies having sex with dozens of boys he’s accused of molesting over the last 30 years. 61-year-old Daniel Acker tells the Journal Sentinel he’s not a “predator,” but he has made “poor choices.” He said he struggled with self-doubt and loneliness for years – and he sought comfort in kids who accepted him more. Acker was charged Friday with the sexual assault of a 15-year-old swimming student who’s now 19. More charges are pending, after at least five other men in their 40’s have told police Acker molested them when they were 7-to-18. He remains in jail under a 65-thousand-dollar bond. Acker told the Journal Sentinel he asked the county to have mental experts evaluate him to identify his weaknesses. He said was disappointed with those weaknesses – but he was too ashamed to get help. Acker is an Air Force veteran, and he spent over a quarter-century working as a nursing assistant for the Milwaukee County Health Department. He also spent 31 years as a part-time swim instructor for the West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation Department. Acker said he didn’t have much confidence as a child, but swimming empowered him. And by teaching it to kids, he said he was passing on a skill that could make them safe. Acker is due back in court a week from tomorrow.
Memorial Day Parade Theme Announced
3/30/09 - The theme of the Beaver Dam Memorial Day 2009 Parade will be “Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave.” Lois Levenhagen with the Parade Committee says the theme was chosen to honor veterans and soldiers past and present, who have served or are serving to preserve our country’s freedom. The parade will be held on Monday May 25. The committee is asking service organizations, bands, schools, churches, and others to enter the parade. For more information or to sign up contact Peter Jozefowski at 887-3698 or Lois Levenhagen at 887- 0642.
BDUSD Seeks To Honor Staff
3/30/09 - The Beaver Dam Unified School District is seeking nominations for teacher, administrator and Support Staff of the Year Award program. Awards will presented for Elementary teacher, Middle School teacher, High School teacher, Administrator/ Coordinator, Special Services Teacher, Secretary, Teacher Assistant, Food Service Worker and Custodial/ Maintenance/ Computer Technician. Nominees will be judged primarily on the significance of their contributions to the well-being of the educational community. Representatives selected will be sent to the state teacher and administrator of the year competition. Parents, students and community members who would like to nominate an employee can obtain a nomination form at any Beaver Dam public school office, the Educational Service Center or on the district’s website. The deadline for submitting a nomination form is Monday, April 20.
School Referendums Prevalent on April Ballots
3/30/09 - At a time when folks are scraping for cash, about 30 Wisconsin school districts will ask people to give more of it to them. There are 43 total school referendum questions on next Tuesday’s ballots statewide, including three in Dodge County. Most ask voters to exceed the state’s revenue limits to keep their current programs going. West Bend schools want the okay to borrow almost 69-million dollars for new-and-improved buildings. Superintendent Patricia Herdrich says it’s the perfect time for such a project – since interest costs and construction bids are their lowest in years. But Michael Birkley of the Wisconsin Property Taxpayers’ group says that as more people get laid off, now is the wrong time to ask them to spend more on education. He agrees, though, that the schools need the money by-and-large. West Bend delayed its referendum from last November, which was right after the financial markets collapsed. And some voters say the district should have delayed the issue again.
Teachers Union Backs Evers
3/30/09 - The Wisconsin teachers’ union has thrown its support behind Deputy Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers in his attempt to ascend to the top job. The union, along with a number of other organizations, have backed Evers because of his 34-years of education experience. The last eight have come as second in command to Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster, who will become the new President of Nicolet College after leaving her post at the state level. Evers opponent in the race, Rose Fernandez, is an advocate of virtual schools and is pushing for major reforms within the state education department. The election is a week from tomorrow.
Powerball in the Triple Digits Again
3/30/09 - The Powerball jackpot is above 100-million-dollars for the first time in just over a month. The top prize for Wednesday night’s drawing is 109-million, after nobody won the jackpot on Saturday night. Nobody from Wisconsin won the second-or-third prizes, either. The last jackpot was won on February 28th. Two tickets sold in Delaware and Pennsylvania split the top prize of 174-million dollars.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Top Stories Sunday, March 29th
Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers in North Dakota
3/29/09 - Three Wisconsin National Guard helicopters and 17 soldiers are answering North Dakota's call for help to assist with flood relief efforts. The task force left the West Bend Flight Facility at noon yesterday. The aircraft and soldiers come from the West Bend-based 832nd Medical Company, the Madison-based 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation; and Detachment 1, Company B, the 248th Aviation Support Battalion (also in West Bend). They are conducting search and rescue operations and provide air transportation. They also have the ability to provide medical evacuation if needed. Wisconsin's contingent will join more than 2,100 North Dakota Guard members and hundreds from other states including Iowa, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota and Missouri. National Guard soldiers and airmen have been filling and hauling sandbags, transporting equipment, manning traffic control points and conducting search and rescue operations as North Dakota water ways continue to rise across the state. While the Wisconsin National Guard currently has more than 3,200 soldiers and airmen deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism, more than 6,000 Guard members stand ready to assist Wisconsin and America with domestic operations such as the North Dakota Floods.
Names Released in Town of Westford Wreck
3/29/09 - The names of the drivers involved in a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in the Town of Westford have been released. The State Patrol says a mini-van driven by 50-year-old Richard J. Sadoski of Randolph was northbound on Pleasant Road around 3:30pm when he blew the stop sign at County Trunk AC and hit a SUV driven by 28-year-old Brad J. Voelker of Fox Lake. Both men were Medflighted from the scene; Sadoski to UW Hospital Madison and Voelker to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. Both men are listed as having life-threatening injuries. An initial investigation shows that neither man was wearing a seat belt and its unknown if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.
Bail Set for West Allis Swim Coach
3/29/09 - Bail is set at 65 thousand dollars for Waukesha youth swim coach Daniel Acker. The 61 year old made a Saturday court appearance and asked for Milwaukee County to pay for an attorney to represent him. Acker was arrested last week while coaching swimmers at Frank Lloyd Wright Middle School in West Allis. An unnamed man told authorities Acker had sexually assaulted him between 1971 and 1976, when the alleged victim was 11 to 15 years of age. Since then at least four other men have come forward. Acker faces charges in one of the cases, though other counts could be filed. The court told Acker he doesn't qualify for public defender representation.
Lazy Lake Management District Honors Flood Hero’s
3/29/09 - Two local heroes were recognized Saturday at the Lazy Lake Management District meeting. District President Steve Sobiek passed out a number of awards to Columbus and Fall River residents who put their lives on the line in the June, 2008 flood disaster. Terry Jaymes of Columbus and William Jaymes of Fall River were honored for their part in keeping the rush of Lazy Lake flood debris from “taking out” the Fall River dam. he effort by the Lazy Lake weed harvesting crew and Village personnel saved the Fall River Dam from being washed into the north branch of the Crawfish River. Village President Dale Standke, Public Works Director Bob Niehoff and Town of Fountain Prairie Chairman Steve Rubert were also recognized for their role in emergency management during the flood.
Gas Continues Its Climbs
3/29/09 - Gas in Beaver Dam is six cents below the statewide average and six cents above the national average. The price of a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.09, the same as in Juneau and Watertown. The high price in the state is $2.20 in Sister Bay. The low price is $2.03 in Sheboygan.
High Speed Rail Between Milwaukee and Madison?
3/29/09 - An advocate for high speed rail says Wisconsin's chances are looking pretty good. Madison to Milwaukee at 110 miles an hour? Kevin Brubaker with the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago says we could soon see high speed rail along the existing Hiawatha route between Milwaukee and Chicago. But that's not all. Brubaker says for about a half-billion dollars we could get high speed rail between Milwaukee and Madison. Eight billion dollars in federal stimulus dollars have been allocated for high speed rail nationwide, and Brubaker says Wisconsin and the Midwest are in an ideal position to compete for some of that money, in part because of groundwork done years ago by former Governor Tommy Thompson.
New Berlin Looks For Compact Exemption
3/29/09 - Two environmental groups say the state needs to get more information before it allows the city of New Berlin to divert Lake Michigan water. New Berlin is located right on the edge of the Great Lakes basin, where waterways on one side flow to the Mississippi River, and those on the other flow to the Great Lakes. The New Berlin instance will be the first test of a Great Lakes Compact exemption which does allow some water to be diverted. The Alliance for the Great Lakes and the National Wildlife Federation expressed their concerns to the Wisconsin DNR. They say the city should provide plans for a water conservation program before a final decision is made.
Earns Prefers Interim Title
3/29/09 - Interim chancellor Lane Earns has told the University of Wisconsin-Parkside he doesn't want the job permanently. Earns took over when former chancellor Jack Keating retired last year. Earns says he will stay on the Parkside campus until June, then return to UW-Oshkosh. He was provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs at that school. Parkside continues its search since it's last choice was forced to back out. Robert Felner resigned before arriving in Wisconsin after he became the target of a federal criminal fraud investigation. Felner has been indicted.
Skeletons In The Closet
3/29/09 - Her landlord found about 20 skeletons of cats where Lorie Kuehl was living. Eight charges of animal abuse were filed against the Menasha woman last Friday. Prosecutors say her landlord entered the apartment in January after Kuehl had left without giving notice. He reported he found piles of animal feces and the skeletons -- some contained in a plastic garbage bag. Kuehl told police she took in stray cats, but abandoned the home last September when the male cats became aggressive. She said she did return occasionally to feed the cats, but she had stopped making those visits.
3/29/09 - Three Wisconsin National Guard helicopters and 17 soldiers are answering North Dakota's call for help to assist with flood relief efforts. The task force left the West Bend Flight Facility at noon yesterday. The aircraft and soldiers come from the West Bend-based 832nd Medical Company, the Madison-based 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation; and Detachment 1, Company B, the 248th Aviation Support Battalion (also in West Bend). They are conducting search and rescue operations and provide air transportation. They also have the ability to provide medical evacuation if needed. Wisconsin's contingent will join more than 2,100 North Dakota Guard members and hundreds from other states including Iowa, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota and Missouri. National Guard soldiers and airmen have been filling and hauling sandbags, transporting equipment, manning traffic control points and conducting search and rescue operations as North Dakota water ways continue to rise across the state. While the Wisconsin National Guard currently has more than 3,200 soldiers and airmen deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism, more than 6,000 Guard members stand ready to assist Wisconsin and America with domestic operations such as the North Dakota Floods.
Names Released in Town of Westford Wreck
3/29/09 - The names of the drivers involved in a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in the Town of Westford have been released. The State Patrol says a mini-van driven by 50-year-old Richard J. Sadoski of Randolph was northbound on Pleasant Road around 3:30pm when he blew the stop sign at County Trunk AC and hit a SUV driven by 28-year-old Brad J. Voelker of Fox Lake. Both men were Medflighted from the scene; Sadoski to UW Hospital Madison and Voelker to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. Both men are listed as having life-threatening injuries. An initial investigation shows that neither man was wearing a seat belt and its unknown if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.
Bail Set for West Allis Swim Coach
3/29/09 - Bail is set at 65 thousand dollars for Waukesha youth swim coach Daniel Acker. The 61 year old made a Saturday court appearance and asked for Milwaukee County to pay for an attorney to represent him. Acker was arrested last week while coaching swimmers at Frank Lloyd Wright Middle School in West Allis. An unnamed man told authorities Acker had sexually assaulted him between 1971 and 1976, when the alleged victim was 11 to 15 years of age. Since then at least four other men have come forward. Acker faces charges in one of the cases, though other counts could be filed. The court told Acker he doesn't qualify for public defender representation.
Lazy Lake Management District Honors Flood Hero’s
3/29/09 - Two local heroes were recognized Saturday at the Lazy Lake Management District meeting. District President Steve Sobiek passed out a number of awards to Columbus and Fall River residents who put their lives on the line in the June, 2008 flood disaster. Terry Jaymes of Columbus and William Jaymes of Fall River were honored for their part in keeping the rush of Lazy Lake flood debris from “taking out” the Fall River dam. he effort by the Lazy Lake weed harvesting crew and Village personnel saved the Fall River Dam from being washed into the north branch of the Crawfish River. Village President Dale Standke, Public Works Director Bob Niehoff and Town of Fountain Prairie Chairman Steve Rubert were also recognized for their role in emergency management during the flood.
Gas Continues Its Climbs
3/29/09 - Gas in Beaver Dam is six cents below the statewide average and six cents above the national average. The price of a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.09, the same as in Juneau and Watertown. The high price in the state is $2.20 in Sister Bay. The low price is $2.03 in Sheboygan.
High Speed Rail Between Milwaukee and Madison?
3/29/09 - An advocate for high speed rail says Wisconsin's chances are looking pretty good. Madison to Milwaukee at 110 miles an hour? Kevin Brubaker with the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago says we could soon see high speed rail along the existing Hiawatha route between Milwaukee and Chicago. But that's not all. Brubaker says for about a half-billion dollars we could get high speed rail between Milwaukee and Madison. Eight billion dollars in federal stimulus dollars have been allocated for high speed rail nationwide, and Brubaker says Wisconsin and the Midwest are in an ideal position to compete for some of that money, in part because of groundwork done years ago by former Governor Tommy Thompson.
New Berlin Looks For Compact Exemption
3/29/09 - Two environmental groups say the state needs to get more information before it allows the city of New Berlin to divert Lake Michigan water. New Berlin is located right on the edge of the Great Lakes basin, where waterways on one side flow to the Mississippi River, and those on the other flow to the Great Lakes. The New Berlin instance will be the first test of a Great Lakes Compact exemption which does allow some water to be diverted. The Alliance for the Great Lakes and the National Wildlife Federation expressed their concerns to the Wisconsin DNR. They say the city should provide plans for a water conservation program before a final decision is made.
Earns Prefers Interim Title
3/29/09 - Interim chancellor Lane Earns has told the University of Wisconsin-Parkside he doesn't want the job permanently. Earns took over when former chancellor Jack Keating retired last year. Earns says he will stay on the Parkside campus until June, then return to UW-Oshkosh. He was provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs at that school. Parkside continues its search since it's last choice was forced to back out. Robert Felner resigned before arriving in Wisconsin after he became the target of a federal criminal fraud investigation. Felner has been indicted.
Skeletons In The Closet
3/29/09 - Her landlord found about 20 skeletons of cats where Lorie Kuehl was living. Eight charges of animal abuse were filed against the Menasha woman last Friday. Prosecutors say her landlord entered the apartment in January after Kuehl had left without giving notice. He reported he found piles of animal feces and the skeletons -- some contained in a plastic garbage bag. Kuehl told police she took in stray cats, but abandoned the home last September when the male cats became aggressive. She said she did return occasionally to feed the cats, but she had stopped making those visits.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Top Stories March 28th
Two Med-Flighted after Serious Crash near Randolph
3/28/09 - Two men suffered life threatening injuries in a two-vehicle crash yesterday afternoon in the Town of Westford. The State Patrol says a mini-van driven by a 50-year-old Randolph man was northbound on Pleasant Road around 3:30 when he blew the stop sign at County Trunk AC and hit a SUV driven by a 28-year-old Fox Lake man. Med-Flight helicopters transported both men to the hospital. As of late Friday night the State Patrol had not released their names because of the serious nature of the injuries. An initial investigation shows that neither man was wearing a seat belt and its unknown if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash. Three other agencies assisted the state patrol.
Winter Weather Advisory for Dodge County
3/28/09 - Dodge County is under a winter weather advisory and Jefferson County is under a winter storm warning for tonight into tomorrow. The National Weather Service says snow will spread into the Dodge County area this evening with a chance for heavy snow at times. They say we could see 3 to 5 inches before it diminishes tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, areas to the southeast of Dodge County could see 4 to 7 inches, with the heaviest this afternoon.
Greenfield Authorities Call in FBI to Investigate Acker
3/28/09 - Authorities want to find out if a man accused of molesting dozens of young boys had anything to do with the disappearances of kids dating back to the 1970’s. Police in the Milwaukee suburb of Greenfield have asked the F-B-I to investigate those possible links. Deputy Inspector Brad Wendlandt told reporters yesterday that Daniel Acker’s home in Waukesha had a scale model of a police station. It had photos of missing and murdered boys from around the country, as depicted in news stories. Investigators said they also found toy cars in Acker’s basement which had the names of missing kids on them. And they found journals about a boy missing in the southwest Milwaukee suburbs in the 70’s. The 61-year-old Acker was arrested on Monday, and is facing a charge second-degree sexual assault of a child. He’s been a part-time swimming instructor for the West Allis-West Milwaukee recreation department – and police suspect him of molesting numerous boys for over 30 years. Officers say they’ve talked to four men in their 40’s and a 19-year-old man – all of whom were said to be among Acker’s victims. And police are asking other victims to step forward. To help the public, they’ve released photos of Acker taken at various times over the last three decades. Wendlandt says investigators have only scratched the surface of the case.
Watertown Man Facing Attempted Homicide Charges
3/28/09 - A 20 year old Watertown man will face felony charges, including the attempted homicide of an unborn child. The unnamed suspect was thrown in jail. He's accused of trying to kill his girlfriend's fetus by punching her in the stomach. Investigators say the suspect said he was going to kill the baby as he punched her. The woman is about 14 weeks pregnant. Watertown police arrested him Thursday after neighbors complained about a loud argument. He is expected to appear in court Monday. Prosecutors have the weekend to prepare their formal criminal complaint.
Mayoral Candidates in Columbus Talk Renovation of Fire and Police Buildings
3/28/09 - Columbus Mayoral candidates both called for a better way to bring the City’s Police and Fire buildings up to date. Candidate Peter Kaland said the problem the City has had repairing or replacing the Public Safety facilities has been a failure to look at the “whole picture.” Candidate Bob Link joined his opponent in criticizing past City efforts as short range attempts to upgrade Police and Fire Department buildings. The Mayoral race will be decided with the April 7th elections.
The Pro’s and Con’s of Police Department Consolidation
3/28/09 - With consolidation being discussed for three police departments in northwest Dodge County, we thought we’d ask a consolidated police department in the southeast portion of the county how it works and if it’s been a success. For the last decade, the Neosho, Rubicon and Ashippun Police Department, also known as the NRA, has covered the entire townships of Rubicon and Ashippun and all the villages in between including Neosho, Alderley and even part of Woodland. Assistant Police Chief Bill Linzenmeyer says it is a challenge to cover all 72 square miles evenly, and it’s a demanding job for a full-time department with part-time officers. But Linzenmeyer says the consolidation increases the labor force of the department and they are able to provide additional coverage because of extra monies available from each of the townships. Linzenmeyer says the key to success is not just providing equal coverage throughout the service area – that is important - but he says it’s just as important that the primary municipalities have a good working relationship. Sheriff Todd Nehls has sent letters to officials in Randolph and the city and town of Fox Lake suggesting that their consolidation into one police department could benefit all three municipalities. No action has been taken but the matter continues to be discussed in committee.
Tax Credits Coming
3/28/09 - Wisconsinites will get about two-point-three billion dollars in federal tax relief over the next two years under the economic stimulus package. Governor Jim Doyle said today the average family would get 506-dollars under the “Making Work Pay” credit that’s scheduled to start in April. Employers will include the credits in their tax withholdings, which means most workers should see a few bucks more in each paycheck. Low-income employees with no tax obligations will still get the credit – which is worth 400-dollars for single people and 800-dollars for married couples. It’ll be less for those making 75-thousand-dollars or more per year. Doyle says it’s part of an expected five-point-two billion dollars in tax relief for individuals and businesses under the stimulus package over the next three years.
Students in West Allis Suspended after Nude Photos Spread by Cell Phone
3/28/09 - Nine West Allis high school students will be suspended for circulating nude photos of other students using their cell phones. Eight of the nine attend Nathan Hale High School, while the other is a student at West Allis Central. A police spokesman says the photos were not sexually explicit, but school district officials say the incident is being treated very seriously. The parents of all the students involved have been notified. The head of the sensitive crimes unit for West Allis police says none of the students will be arrested.
Officials Looking at Uniform Policies for all Recreation Vehicle Users
3/28/09 - Fifteen of 23 snowmobile fatalities this winter are attributed to alcohol, and Mike Cerny, chairman of the state's Snowmobile Recreation Council, wonders whether law enforcement needs more tools. Cerny says Wisconsin is losing enforcement hour on the trails. Up for discussion between the snowmobile council, ATV and boating groups is a proposal for uniform penalties for all recreation vehicle users. Cerny said there's not much support for linking the first OWI on a recreational vehicle to driver's licenses. Along with the numerous deaths of drunk snowmobilers, the case of three men who used their sleds to kill deer has drawn a lot of media attention. Cerny says as far as public perceptions of his sport are concerned, the past winter has been the worst he's ever seen.
Cut Backs at Marian University
3/28/09 - Marian University of Fond du Lac is cutting three-and-a-half million dollars in spending. It has announced the elimination of 15 full-time positions and seven part-timers. It’s also scaling back contracts for 23 employees for a total personnel savings of two-and-a-half million dollars. The rest of the budget cuts will be things like shorter library hours and other operational costs. Marian, a Catholic school with 12-hundred students, had 22 fewer full-time enrollees than it projected for this year. Adult student sign-ups were also down. And officials expect more students to need financial aid next year, when enrollments are projected to drop again. The budget cuts were announced less than a week after school president Josefina Baltodano resigned. But Marian’s not the only Wisconsin private school that’s scaling back. Beloit College eliminated 34 jobs last November. And Wisconsin Lutheran College of Milwaukee is dropping its political science department.
3/28/09 - Two men suffered life threatening injuries in a two-vehicle crash yesterday afternoon in the Town of Westford. The State Patrol says a mini-van driven by a 50-year-old Randolph man was northbound on Pleasant Road around 3:30 when he blew the stop sign at County Trunk AC and hit a SUV driven by a 28-year-old Fox Lake man. Med-Flight helicopters transported both men to the hospital. As of late Friday night the State Patrol had not released their names because of the serious nature of the injuries. An initial investigation shows that neither man was wearing a seat belt and its unknown if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash. Three other agencies assisted the state patrol.
Winter Weather Advisory for Dodge County
3/28/09 - Dodge County is under a winter weather advisory and Jefferson County is under a winter storm warning for tonight into tomorrow. The National Weather Service says snow will spread into the Dodge County area this evening with a chance for heavy snow at times. They say we could see 3 to 5 inches before it diminishes tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, areas to the southeast of Dodge County could see 4 to 7 inches, with the heaviest this afternoon.
Greenfield Authorities Call in FBI to Investigate Acker
3/28/09 - Authorities want to find out if a man accused of molesting dozens of young boys had anything to do with the disappearances of kids dating back to the 1970’s. Police in the Milwaukee suburb of Greenfield have asked the F-B-I to investigate those possible links. Deputy Inspector Brad Wendlandt told reporters yesterday that Daniel Acker’s home in Waukesha had a scale model of a police station. It had photos of missing and murdered boys from around the country, as depicted in news stories. Investigators said they also found toy cars in Acker’s basement which had the names of missing kids on them. And they found journals about a boy missing in the southwest Milwaukee suburbs in the 70’s. The 61-year-old Acker was arrested on Monday, and is facing a charge second-degree sexual assault of a child. He’s been a part-time swimming instructor for the West Allis-West Milwaukee recreation department – and police suspect him of molesting numerous boys for over 30 years. Officers say they’ve talked to four men in their 40’s and a 19-year-old man – all of whom were said to be among Acker’s victims. And police are asking other victims to step forward. To help the public, they’ve released photos of Acker taken at various times over the last three decades. Wendlandt says investigators have only scratched the surface of the case.
Watertown Man Facing Attempted Homicide Charges
3/28/09 - A 20 year old Watertown man will face felony charges, including the attempted homicide of an unborn child. The unnamed suspect was thrown in jail. He's accused of trying to kill his girlfriend's fetus by punching her in the stomach. Investigators say the suspect said he was going to kill the baby as he punched her. The woman is about 14 weeks pregnant. Watertown police arrested him Thursday after neighbors complained about a loud argument. He is expected to appear in court Monday. Prosecutors have the weekend to prepare their formal criminal complaint.
Mayoral Candidates in Columbus Talk Renovation of Fire and Police Buildings
3/28/09 - Columbus Mayoral candidates both called for a better way to bring the City’s Police and Fire buildings up to date. Candidate Peter Kaland said the problem the City has had repairing or replacing the Public Safety facilities has been a failure to look at the “whole picture.” Candidate Bob Link joined his opponent in criticizing past City efforts as short range attempts to upgrade Police and Fire Department buildings. The Mayoral race will be decided with the April 7th elections.
The Pro’s and Con’s of Police Department Consolidation
3/28/09 - With consolidation being discussed for three police departments in northwest Dodge County, we thought we’d ask a consolidated police department in the southeast portion of the county how it works and if it’s been a success. For the last decade, the Neosho, Rubicon and Ashippun Police Department, also known as the NRA, has covered the entire townships of Rubicon and Ashippun and all the villages in between including Neosho, Alderley and even part of Woodland. Assistant Police Chief Bill Linzenmeyer says it is a challenge to cover all 72 square miles evenly, and it’s a demanding job for a full-time department with part-time officers. But Linzenmeyer says the consolidation increases the labor force of the department and they are able to provide additional coverage because of extra monies available from each of the townships. Linzenmeyer says the key to success is not just providing equal coverage throughout the service area – that is important - but he says it’s just as important that the primary municipalities have a good working relationship. Sheriff Todd Nehls has sent letters to officials in Randolph and the city and town of Fox Lake suggesting that their consolidation into one police department could benefit all three municipalities. No action has been taken but the matter continues to be discussed in committee.
Tax Credits Coming
3/28/09 - Wisconsinites will get about two-point-three billion dollars in federal tax relief over the next two years under the economic stimulus package. Governor Jim Doyle said today the average family would get 506-dollars under the “Making Work Pay” credit that’s scheduled to start in April. Employers will include the credits in their tax withholdings, which means most workers should see a few bucks more in each paycheck. Low-income employees with no tax obligations will still get the credit – which is worth 400-dollars for single people and 800-dollars for married couples. It’ll be less for those making 75-thousand-dollars or more per year. Doyle says it’s part of an expected five-point-two billion dollars in tax relief for individuals and businesses under the stimulus package over the next three years.
Students in West Allis Suspended after Nude Photos Spread by Cell Phone
3/28/09 - Nine West Allis high school students will be suspended for circulating nude photos of other students using their cell phones. Eight of the nine attend Nathan Hale High School, while the other is a student at West Allis Central. A police spokesman says the photos were not sexually explicit, but school district officials say the incident is being treated very seriously. The parents of all the students involved have been notified. The head of the sensitive crimes unit for West Allis police says none of the students will be arrested.
Officials Looking at Uniform Policies for all Recreation Vehicle Users
3/28/09 - Fifteen of 23 snowmobile fatalities this winter are attributed to alcohol, and Mike Cerny, chairman of the state's Snowmobile Recreation Council, wonders whether law enforcement needs more tools. Cerny says Wisconsin is losing enforcement hour on the trails. Up for discussion between the snowmobile council, ATV and boating groups is a proposal for uniform penalties for all recreation vehicle users. Cerny said there's not much support for linking the first OWI on a recreational vehicle to driver's licenses. Along with the numerous deaths of drunk snowmobilers, the case of three men who used their sleds to kill deer has drawn a lot of media attention. Cerny says as far as public perceptions of his sport are concerned, the past winter has been the worst he's ever seen.
Cut Backs at Marian University
3/28/09 - Marian University of Fond du Lac is cutting three-and-a-half million dollars in spending. It has announced the elimination of 15 full-time positions and seven part-timers. It’s also scaling back contracts for 23 employees for a total personnel savings of two-and-a-half million dollars. The rest of the budget cuts will be things like shorter library hours and other operational costs. Marian, a Catholic school with 12-hundred students, had 22 fewer full-time enrollees than it projected for this year. Adult student sign-ups were also down. And officials expect more students to need financial aid next year, when enrollments are projected to drop again. The budget cuts were announced less than a week after school president Josefina Baltodano resigned. But Marian’s not the only Wisconsin private school that’s scaling back. Beloit College eliminated 34 jobs last November. And Wisconsin Lutheran College of Milwaukee is dropping its political science department.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Top Stories March 27th
Ward One Candidates Clash on PD Rennovation
3/27/09 - The incumbent and challenger in the Ward One Beaver Dam aldermanic race have opposing views on the police department expansion plans. The project stalled recently on the council floor before designs were drawn up. Donna Furhman told us on WBEV’s Community Comment Thursday that if she had been on the council, she would have voted in favor of the renovation plan because there is not enough room in the building for the police department to do its job safely and effectively. Ward 1 incumbent Alderman Clancy Knaup the time is just not right because the city can only afford so much and the city has already committed to spend millions of dollars on the downtown revitalization project. The most recent space needs study lists the need for a new Senior Center as the second priority in the city behind the police department. Fuhrman favors an empty storefront in the mall. Knaup says a vacant building should be remodeled, perhaps in partnership with another non-profit organization. Both says the cost of the project would be a determining factor.
Winter Returns
3/27/09 - Most of Wisconsin won’t get the big snows the forecasters have been talking about for this weekend. But our area could see 3 to 5 inches while Metro Milwaukee could get up to 8-inches. Most of it is due in tomorrow night, as a strong low pressure system heads moves from the Southern Plains through Illinois and Indiana. Southeast areas could get a mix of snow-and-sleet during the day tomorrow, which will make driving a little tricky. Madison is expected to get all snow – around 2-to-5 inches worth. High temps for our area through next Wednesday will range from the mid 30’s to the high 40’s with a chance for precipitation each day.
Cell Re-Programming Breakthrough at UW-Madison
3/27/09 - U-W Madison scientists have announced a break-through in a human cell re-programming technique that’s considered an alternative to embryonic stem cells. Doctors say it could lead to new types of medicines which take advantage of the body’s own healing powers. Pioneer James Thomson and his team have come up with a safer way to convert cells from babies’ foreskins into units that resemble embryonic stem cells. The technique worked in the past – but it also generated viruses and outside genes that could lead to tumors. The new technique dilutes those harmful viruses, leaving only cells which have the potential to heal. Stephen Duncan of the Medical College of Wisconsin says any basic molecular lab can use the technique – and it puts science closer to start using those cells therapeutically. The new U-W research builds on a re-programming of stem cells Thomson and an outside Japanese team first achieved two years ago. It was hailed at the time as a major alternative to the controversial practice of making stem cells from embryos – but those cells were not safe for humans.
Husband Struggled after McIntyre’s Death
3/27/09 - The husband of a Columbus woman killed in March of 1980 has endured his own trials in life since her death. Lane McIntyre says he's seen two marriages fall apart since his wife was killed that year and doesn't speak to his son who was 3 months old when the murder occurred. 51-year-old Curtis Forbes of Randolph, a high school friend of Lane McIntyre's, is in custody and is expected to be charged with Marilyn McIntyre's murder next Monday. (KFIZ)
Benson Has Bail Raised after Violation
3/27/09 - A former surgeon accused of being high on medicines while he killed three people in a traffic crash had his bond raised yesterday. A Waukesha County judge said 56-year-old Mark Benson violated the terms of an earlier bail – so he made the new bond almost one-point-two-million-dollars. He was freed on a half-million-dollar bond February 20th, but authorities said he violated the terms of that bond by getting prescriptions which a doctor didn’t approve and possessing weapons. Prosecutors are also trying to make Benson forfeit the money, which was posted by his mother and her husband. A court hearing on that was delayed until May eighth, because the two could not attend yesterday’s proceeding. Benson is charged in a crash last April that killed Oconomowoc school official Jennifer Bukosky, her unborn child, and her 10-year-old daughter. Two counts of bail jumping were filed last week.
Man Facing Charges for Molestation of Young Boy’s Dating Back to 1970’s
3/27/09 - Police say a part-time swimming instructor in suburban Milwaukee might have molested young boys for over 30 years. Charges are pending against 61-year-old Daniel Acker of Waukesha, who was arrested this week during a swim practice. He’s been put on leave by the West Allis-West Milwaukee recreation department. Investigators said Acker apparently committed hundreds of sexual assaults on dozens of boys age 7-to-15 since the 1970’s. Police in nearby Greenfield were tipped off Monday about an old incident in that suburb. Deputy Inspector Brad Wendlandt said the tip led officers to four victims who are now in their 40’s, one of whom said he was molested at least 100 times. Officers then found a 19-year-old man who said he and Acker began having sex when he was 15-or-16 – and they were still in a relationship when the case unraveled. Police say they’re using the man’s allegations to seek charges, but they hope other victims will come forward.
Wendlandt said Acker taught swim lessons in the Milwaukee area for over 40 years. The West Allis-West Milwaukee school district runs the recreation program involving the sex cases – and school officials say they’ll have staffers available to answer questions and address concerns.
Sec. Leinenkugel Offers Hope in Speech
3/27/09 - Some optimism was offered by the state's Commerce Secretary about the economy last night. Dick Leinenkugel told a gathering in Fond du Lac that the state has the tools in the Governor's budget to emerge from the recession even stronger. However he says it will take sacrifices. Leinenkugel was the featured speaker at the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation's Annual Evening.
Mercury Marine also merited mention last night. Leinenkugel toured the Fond du Lac company earlier in the day and learned Mercury has developed 35 new outboard engines in the last four years. Leinenkugel says manufacturers have to continue coming up with innovative ideas and products to weather the economy and competition. He also touted the Governor's budget while addressing the crowd at the U-W Fond du Lac. (KFIZ)
Media Gets Tour of New CT Scanner at BDCH
3/27/09 - Beaver Dam Community Hospital now has the most scientifically advanced CT scanner in Dodge County. Showcasing their 64-slice CT scanner publicly for the first time since it was installed in January, Director of Medical Imaging John Sweeney lead a media tour yesterday of the new machine that essentially replaces their 4-slice scanner. Sweeney says the new $1.1-million-dollar machine is much faster and provides a superior picture than the 4-slice scanner, which he says will lead to a quicker and more thorough diagnosis for patients. Using a series of X-ray beams, the CT scanner creates cross-sectional images, which a computer then reconstructs these “slices” to produce a 3-D image. Sweeney says BDCH is the only hospital outside of Milwaukee, Madison, and the Fox Valley to have this type of scanner in Wisconsin, and he expects it to draw people from throughout the Dodge County area.
DC Airport Gets Grant
3/27/09 - The Dodge County Airport has been awarded a state grant to install an upgrade to its automated weather observation system. The governor’s action releases $72,000 in state funds for the project and Dodge County is contributing another $18,000. According to Craig Butler, airport project manager with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the project will enable the Federal Aviation Administration to continue to publish aircraft instrument approach procedures that provide inbound air traffic greater access to the airport. Dodge County Airport has two paved runways, 4,000 feet and 5,000 feet in length, respectively. There are 33 individual hangars at the airport and a new terminal building. Fifty planes are based at the airport and there are approximately 24,000 take-offs and landings each year.
Community Comment: Horicon School District Referendum
3/27/09 - We continue our coverage of the issues in the April election on Community Comment this afternoon when we welcome the Superintendent of the Horicon School District. Gary Berger will explain the reasons the district is going to referendum, asking voters for $300,000 for operating expenses for the next school year. Berger will join us for the hour beginning at 12:35pm this afternoon on WBEV 1430AM.
3/27/09 - The incumbent and challenger in the Ward One Beaver Dam aldermanic race have opposing views on the police department expansion plans. The project stalled recently on the council floor before designs were drawn up. Donna Furhman told us on WBEV’s Community Comment Thursday that if she had been on the council, she would have voted in favor of the renovation plan because there is not enough room in the building for the police department to do its job safely and effectively. Ward 1 incumbent Alderman Clancy Knaup the time is just not right because the city can only afford so much and the city has already committed to spend millions of dollars on the downtown revitalization project. The most recent space needs study lists the need for a new Senior Center as the second priority in the city behind the police department. Fuhrman favors an empty storefront in the mall. Knaup says a vacant building should be remodeled, perhaps in partnership with another non-profit organization. Both says the cost of the project would be a determining factor.
Winter Returns
3/27/09 - Most of Wisconsin won’t get the big snows the forecasters have been talking about for this weekend. But our area could see 3 to 5 inches while Metro Milwaukee could get up to 8-inches. Most of it is due in tomorrow night, as a strong low pressure system heads moves from the Southern Plains through Illinois and Indiana. Southeast areas could get a mix of snow-and-sleet during the day tomorrow, which will make driving a little tricky. Madison is expected to get all snow – around 2-to-5 inches worth. High temps for our area through next Wednesday will range from the mid 30’s to the high 40’s with a chance for precipitation each day.
Cell Re-Programming Breakthrough at UW-Madison
3/27/09 - U-W Madison scientists have announced a break-through in a human cell re-programming technique that’s considered an alternative to embryonic stem cells. Doctors say it could lead to new types of medicines which take advantage of the body’s own healing powers. Pioneer James Thomson and his team have come up with a safer way to convert cells from babies’ foreskins into units that resemble embryonic stem cells. The technique worked in the past – but it also generated viruses and outside genes that could lead to tumors. The new technique dilutes those harmful viruses, leaving only cells which have the potential to heal. Stephen Duncan of the Medical College of Wisconsin says any basic molecular lab can use the technique – and it puts science closer to start using those cells therapeutically. The new U-W research builds on a re-programming of stem cells Thomson and an outside Japanese team first achieved two years ago. It was hailed at the time as a major alternative to the controversial practice of making stem cells from embryos – but those cells were not safe for humans.
Husband Struggled after McIntyre’s Death
3/27/09 - The husband of a Columbus woman killed in March of 1980 has endured his own trials in life since her death. Lane McIntyre says he's seen two marriages fall apart since his wife was killed that year and doesn't speak to his son who was 3 months old when the murder occurred. 51-year-old Curtis Forbes of Randolph, a high school friend of Lane McIntyre's, is in custody and is expected to be charged with Marilyn McIntyre's murder next Monday. (KFIZ)
Benson Has Bail Raised after Violation
3/27/09 - A former surgeon accused of being high on medicines while he killed three people in a traffic crash had his bond raised yesterday. A Waukesha County judge said 56-year-old Mark Benson violated the terms of an earlier bail – so he made the new bond almost one-point-two-million-dollars. He was freed on a half-million-dollar bond February 20th, but authorities said he violated the terms of that bond by getting prescriptions which a doctor didn’t approve and possessing weapons. Prosecutors are also trying to make Benson forfeit the money, which was posted by his mother and her husband. A court hearing on that was delayed until May eighth, because the two could not attend yesterday’s proceeding. Benson is charged in a crash last April that killed Oconomowoc school official Jennifer Bukosky, her unborn child, and her 10-year-old daughter. Two counts of bail jumping were filed last week.
Man Facing Charges for Molestation of Young Boy’s Dating Back to 1970’s
3/27/09 - Police say a part-time swimming instructor in suburban Milwaukee might have molested young boys for over 30 years. Charges are pending against 61-year-old Daniel Acker of Waukesha, who was arrested this week during a swim practice. He’s been put on leave by the West Allis-West Milwaukee recreation department. Investigators said Acker apparently committed hundreds of sexual assaults on dozens of boys age 7-to-15 since the 1970’s. Police in nearby Greenfield were tipped off Monday about an old incident in that suburb. Deputy Inspector Brad Wendlandt said the tip led officers to four victims who are now in their 40’s, one of whom said he was molested at least 100 times. Officers then found a 19-year-old man who said he and Acker began having sex when he was 15-or-16 – and they were still in a relationship when the case unraveled. Police say they’re using the man’s allegations to seek charges, but they hope other victims will come forward.
Wendlandt said Acker taught swim lessons in the Milwaukee area for over 40 years. The West Allis-West Milwaukee school district runs the recreation program involving the sex cases – and school officials say they’ll have staffers available to answer questions and address concerns.
Sec. Leinenkugel Offers Hope in Speech
3/27/09 - Some optimism was offered by the state's Commerce Secretary about the economy last night. Dick Leinenkugel told a gathering in Fond du Lac that the state has the tools in the Governor's budget to emerge from the recession even stronger. However he says it will take sacrifices. Leinenkugel was the featured speaker at the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation's Annual Evening.
Mercury Marine also merited mention last night. Leinenkugel toured the Fond du Lac company earlier in the day and learned Mercury has developed 35 new outboard engines in the last four years. Leinenkugel says manufacturers have to continue coming up with innovative ideas and products to weather the economy and competition. He also touted the Governor's budget while addressing the crowd at the U-W Fond du Lac. (KFIZ)
Media Gets Tour of New CT Scanner at BDCH
3/27/09 - Beaver Dam Community Hospital now has the most scientifically advanced CT scanner in Dodge County. Showcasing their 64-slice CT scanner publicly for the first time since it was installed in January, Director of Medical Imaging John Sweeney lead a media tour yesterday of the new machine that essentially replaces their 4-slice scanner. Sweeney says the new $1.1-million-dollar machine is much faster and provides a superior picture than the 4-slice scanner, which he says will lead to a quicker and more thorough diagnosis for patients. Using a series of X-ray beams, the CT scanner creates cross-sectional images, which a computer then reconstructs these “slices” to produce a 3-D image. Sweeney says BDCH is the only hospital outside of Milwaukee, Madison, and the Fox Valley to have this type of scanner in Wisconsin, and he expects it to draw people from throughout the Dodge County area.
DC Airport Gets Grant
3/27/09 - The Dodge County Airport has been awarded a state grant to install an upgrade to its automated weather observation system. The governor’s action releases $72,000 in state funds for the project and Dodge County is contributing another $18,000. According to Craig Butler, airport project manager with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the project will enable the Federal Aviation Administration to continue to publish aircraft instrument approach procedures that provide inbound air traffic greater access to the airport. Dodge County Airport has two paved runways, 4,000 feet and 5,000 feet in length, respectively. There are 33 individual hangars at the airport and a new terminal building. Fifty planes are based at the airport and there are approximately 24,000 take-offs and landings each year.
Community Comment: Horicon School District Referendum
3/27/09 - We continue our coverage of the issues in the April election on Community Comment this afternoon when we welcome the Superintendent of the Horicon School District. Gary Berger will explain the reasons the district is going to referendum, asking voters for $300,000 for operating expenses for the next school year. Berger will join us for the hour beginning at 12:35pm this afternoon on WBEV 1430AM.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Top Stories March 26th
Aldermanic/ School Board Candidates Square Off
3/26/09 - Beaver Dam school board and aldermanic candidates debated the issues during the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Candidates Forum last night. The school board candidates were definitely in agreement that funding will be the number one issue for the district in coming years, but the consensus ended there. One member of the audience asked the candidates their opinion about consolidation of elementary schools buildings in the district and the effect it would have on the “neighborhood school” concept. Dan Feuling says he is a firm believer that elementary schools should be located where a child lives so they can walk to school. Erin Broome says consolidation is something that Beaver Dam truly needs to consider; Broome says it has worked in other districts and in can work here. Incumbent Marge Jorgenson says the question is given added relevance because of the closure of schools in the Waupun School District; Jorgenson says the board’s primary responsibility is to the students in Beaver Dam and if there is space then consideration can be given to open enrollment students. Del Yaroch says the issue in Waupun may lead to more issues with classroom space, but nonetheless the feeling he has gotten from people in the community is that the neighborhood schools concept needs to be maintained. Former school board member Gary Spielman says the consolidation issue should focus primarily on class size and the availability of accessible classrooms, especially because of the number of open enrollment students coming to be Beaver Dam, which he says speaks to the quality of education.
The candidates running for Beaver Dam’s First Aldermanic Ward disagreed on the downtown redevelopment issue. Incumbent Alderman Clancy Knaup said he voted against the plan because it didn’t address the larger issue of citywide flooding. Challenger Donna Fuhrman said she fully supports downtown revitalization efforts and the steps the city has taken so far. The entire Candidates Forum will be rebroadcast on WBEV Saturday morning at 10am.
Arrest Made in 29-Year-Old Murder
3/26/09 - The Randolph man accused of murdering a Columbus woman nearly 30 years ago, is expected to be in a Columbia County courtroom on Monday for an initial appearance. In a press release, Sheriff Dennis Richards said Curtis Forbes was arrested on charges of First Degree Intentional Homicide following a traffic stop Tuesday evening. At that time a search warrant was executed on Forbes person for additional evidence. The 51-year-old Forbes is accused of killing 18-year-old Marilyn McIntyre at her Columbus residence on March 11, 1980. She was discovered by her husband after he returned home from work; their three-month old son was asleep at the time. McIntyre was beaten, stabbed and strangled. Forbes, who was a close personal friend of the victim’s husband, was initially a person of interest but he fled the state shortly after the murder. The case had gone cold for several years but was reopened in late 2007 at the request of the family. Milbrath says investigators had something this time that was not available in 1980: DNA evidence. Forbes is currently being held at the Columbia County jail.
Jobless Rate Continues to Climb in Wisconsin
3/26/09 - Unemployment keeps rising throughout Wisconsin. The Department of Workforce Development released the February numbers yesterday and 71 of the 72 counties had increases while one remained the same from the previous month. Dodge County went up 1.1% over the two-month period to 9.5%. That figure is 4.5% higher than a year ago. Columbia County was at 9.1%, an increase of 1% from the previous month. Jefferson County was 1.1% higher than the previous month at 9.4 and 4.1% higher than last year. The highest unemployment rate in the state was in Rusk County at 15.6%, while Dane County has the lowest rate at 5.5%. Statewide, the unadjusted jobless rate was up 1.1% to 8.8%, which is up 3.7% from last year.
Horicon Looking to Finance Highway 33 Project
3/26/09 - In an effort to help pay for their portion of the Highway 33 project the Horicon City Council authorized Ehlers and Associates to sell more than $2.6-million-dollars of short-term bond anticipation notes. Phillip Cosson with Ehlers says the money would be used to pay for the water, sewer and streets portion of the project. Another $200,000 will be used for a possible well project next year. The notes will be for a 24-month period though it the council could change it to a longer term if low-interest loans being applied for by their engineering firm don’t come through. Cosson says Ehlers will now attempt to sell the bonds and will come back to the council next month for final approval.
Working Out The Bugs – Highway 33 Reconstruction
3/26/09 - Slowly but surely, drivers are staring to get the hang of the Highway 33 reconstruction detour in Horicon. That’s according to Police Chief Joe Adamson who says “they’ve gotten most of the bugs worked out” but because people are still confused by the detour there is a prominent presence of law enforcement. Adamson says if your destination, or your point of origin, is within city limits then follow local detour signs. If you are traveling through Horicon, then you need to follow the DOT detour route, which directs travelers to Highway’s 26, 60 and 67. The $6.5 million dollar reconstruction on the 1.4 mile stretch of road between Columbia and Palmatory Streets will continue through November 20. Highway 33 is closed to through traffic but local businesses are open. The city council this week approved the hiring of temporary, part-time police officers to help alleviate the added workload brought on both the detour and the recent loss of officers to workman’s compensation.
Two Daily’s Stop Publishing Monday Print Editions
3/26/09 - Two daily newspapers in southeast Wisconsin will stop publishing print editions on Mondays. The Waukesha Freeman says its final Monday edition will come next week, and the West Bend Daily News will follow suit. They’re the latest down-sizings in a media industry hampered by lower advertising revenues and higher production costs. Both the Waukesha and West Bend papers are owned by Conley Media. The firm says the move will cut costs, and put the newspapers in a better financial position as the recession continues. The Freeman says it will post an Internet edition on Mondays which subscribers will get at no extra cost. The normal features in the Monday paper will run later in the week. The papers do not publish on Sundays.
More Problems Uncovered with Prisoner Treatments
3/26/09 - A state audit released today uncovered more problems with the way mentally ill prisoners are treated. Among other things, the Legislative Audit Bureau said prisoners don’t have enough psychologists and psychiatrists to meet national standards. Therapy sessions are limited, although mentally ill inmates are monitored on a regular basis. Correctional officers deliver medications, while medical staffers do the job in other states. And auditors said clearer policies and more centralized decision-making are needed. These are getting to be bigger issues as the mentally-ill prison population grows. The total number of Wisconsin prisoners rose three-point-nine percent in the last three years, while the number of mentally-ill prisoners grew over 14-percent. Just over 22-thousand prisoners were defined as mentally ill. The audit bureau recommends better screenings for new inmates, more training for correctional officers, and better planning to help prisoners who are about to be released. Corrections officials have not commented. The audit comes on the heels of improvements at the Taycheedah prison for women. The U-S Justice Department said the prison did not offer enough help for mentally-ill prisoners in 2006. And they threatened a lawsuit at that time. The state also plans to build a 45-bed addition at the Wisconsin Resource Center near Oshkosh for mentally-ill women. That unit is scheduled to open in 2011.
Fire in Markesan Destroys Home
3/26/09 - A fire in Markesan Tuesday completely destroyed a home on James St. According to Markesan Fire Chief Tom Wilde, the owner of the home, Diana Spiering, reported the fire at 10am. Wilde says the home is still standing but it is considered to a total loss. Six fire departments responded to the blaze and were on the scene until 5pm. Four cats perished in the fire. The cause has not yet been determined and the investigation continues.
3/26/09 - Beaver Dam school board and aldermanic candidates debated the issues during the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Candidates Forum last night. The school board candidates were definitely in agreement that funding will be the number one issue for the district in coming years, but the consensus ended there. One member of the audience asked the candidates their opinion about consolidation of elementary schools buildings in the district and the effect it would have on the “neighborhood school” concept. Dan Feuling says he is a firm believer that elementary schools should be located where a child lives so they can walk to school. Erin Broome says consolidation is something that Beaver Dam truly needs to consider; Broome says it has worked in other districts and in can work here. Incumbent Marge Jorgenson says the question is given added relevance because of the closure of schools in the Waupun School District; Jorgenson says the board’s primary responsibility is to the students in Beaver Dam and if there is space then consideration can be given to open enrollment students. Del Yaroch says the issue in Waupun may lead to more issues with classroom space, but nonetheless the feeling he has gotten from people in the community is that the neighborhood schools concept needs to be maintained. Former school board member Gary Spielman says the consolidation issue should focus primarily on class size and the availability of accessible classrooms, especially because of the number of open enrollment students coming to be Beaver Dam, which he says speaks to the quality of education.
The candidates running for Beaver Dam’s First Aldermanic Ward disagreed on the downtown redevelopment issue. Incumbent Alderman Clancy Knaup said he voted against the plan because it didn’t address the larger issue of citywide flooding. Challenger Donna Fuhrman said she fully supports downtown revitalization efforts and the steps the city has taken so far. The entire Candidates Forum will be rebroadcast on WBEV Saturday morning at 10am.
Arrest Made in 29-Year-Old Murder
3/26/09 - The Randolph man accused of murdering a Columbus woman nearly 30 years ago, is expected to be in a Columbia County courtroom on Monday for an initial appearance. In a press release, Sheriff Dennis Richards said Curtis Forbes was arrested on charges of First Degree Intentional Homicide following a traffic stop Tuesday evening. At that time a search warrant was executed on Forbes person for additional evidence. The 51-year-old Forbes is accused of killing 18-year-old Marilyn McIntyre at her Columbus residence on March 11, 1980. She was discovered by her husband after he returned home from work; their three-month old son was asleep at the time. McIntyre was beaten, stabbed and strangled. Forbes, who was a close personal friend of the victim’s husband, was initially a person of interest but he fled the state shortly after the murder. The case had gone cold for several years but was reopened in late 2007 at the request of the family. Milbrath says investigators had something this time that was not available in 1980: DNA evidence. Forbes is currently being held at the Columbia County jail.
Jobless Rate Continues to Climb in Wisconsin
3/26/09 - Unemployment keeps rising throughout Wisconsin. The Department of Workforce Development released the February numbers yesterday and 71 of the 72 counties had increases while one remained the same from the previous month. Dodge County went up 1.1% over the two-month period to 9.5%. That figure is 4.5% higher than a year ago. Columbia County was at 9.1%, an increase of 1% from the previous month. Jefferson County was 1.1% higher than the previous month at 9.4 and 4.1% higher than last year. The highest unemployment rate in the state was in Rusk County at 15.6%, while Dane County has the lowest rate at 5.5%. Statewide, the unadjusted jobless rate was up 1.1% to 8.8%, which is up 3.7% from last year.
Horicon Looking to Finance Highway 33 Project
3/26/09 - In an effort to help pay for their portion of the Highway 33 project the Horicon City Council authorized Ehlers and Associates to sell more than $2.6-million-dollars of short-term bond anticipation notes. Phillip Cosson with Ehlers says the money would be used to pay for the water, sewer and streets portion of the project. Another $200,000 will be used for a possible well project next year. The notes will be for a 24-month period though it the council could change it to a longer term if low-interest loans being applied for by their engineering firm don’t come through. Cosson says Ehlers will now attempt to sell the bonds and will come back to the council next month for final approval.
Working Out The Bugs – Highway 33 Reconstruction
3/26/09 - Slowly but surely, drivers are staring to get the hang of the Highway 33 reconstruction detour in Horicon. That’s according to Police Chief Joe Adamson who says “they’ve gotten most of the bugs worked out” but because people are still confused by the detour there is a prominent presence of law enforcement. Adamson says if your destination, or your point of origin, is within city limits then follow local detour signs. If you are traveling through Horicon, then you need to follow the DOT detour route, which directs travelers to Highway’s 26, 60 and 67. The $6.5 million dollar reconstruction on the 1.4 mile stretch of road between Columbia and Palmatory Streets will continue through November 20. Highway 33 is closed to through traffic but local businesses are open. The city council this week approved the hiring of temporary, part-time police officers to help alleviate the added workload brought on both the detour and the recent loss of officers to workman’s compensation.
Two Daily’s Stop Publishing Monday Print Editions
3/26/09 - Two daily newspapers in southeast Wisconsin will stop publishing print editions on Mondays. The Waukesha Freeman says its final Monday edition will come next week, and the West Bend Daily News will follow suit. They’re the latest down-sizings in a media industry hampered by lower advertising revenues and higher production costs. Both the Waukesha and West Bend papers are owned by Conley Media. The firm says the move will cut costs, and put the newspapers in a better financial position as the recession continues. The Freeman says it will post an Internet edition on Mondays which subscribers will get at no extra cost. The normal features in the Monday paper will run later in the week. The papers do not publish on Sundays.
More Problems Uncovered with Prisoner Treatments
3/26/09 - A state audit released today uncovered more problems with the way mentally ill prisoners are treated. Among other things, the Legislative Audit Bureau said prisoners don’t have enough psychologists and psychiatrists to meet national standards. Therapy sessions are limited, although mentally ill inmates are monitored on a regular basis. Correctional officers deliver medications, while medical staffers do the job in other states. And auditors said clearer policies and more centralized decision-making are needed. These are getting to be bigger issues as the mentally-ill prison population grows. The total number of Wisconsin prisoners rose three-point-nine percent in the last three years, while the number of mentally-ill prisoners grew over 14-percent. Just over 22-thousand prisoners were defined as mentally ill. The audit bureau recommends better screenings for new inmates, more training for correctional officers, and better planning to help prisoners who are about to be released. Corrections officials have not commented. The audit comes on the heels of improvements at the Taycheedah prison for women. The U-S Justice Department said the prison did not offer enough help for mentally-ill prisoners in 2006. And they threatened a lawsuit at that time. The state also plans to build a 45-bed addition at the Wisconsin Resource Center near Oshkosh for mentally-ill women. That unit is scheduled to open in 2011.
Fire in Markesan Destroys Home
3/26/09 - A fire in Markesan Tuesday completely destroyed a home on James St. According to Markesan Fire Chief Tom Wilde, the owner of the home, Diana Spiering, reported the fire at 10am. Wilde says the home is still standing but it is considered to a total loss. Six fire departments responded to the blaze and were on the scene until 5pm. Four cats perished in the fire. The cause has not yet been determined and the investigation continues.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Top Stories March 25th
Randolph Man Arrested for 1980 Murder
3/25/09 - The Columbus Council chambers broke into a round of applause last night when Mayor Nancy Osterhaus and Police Chief Dennis Weiner announced the arrest of a suspect in a 29-year-old unsolved murder. A 51-year-old Randolph man, Curtis Forbes is in custody in Columbia County jail as a result of the Columbus “cold case” investigation. Forbes was arrested yesterday and is facing charges in the murder of a Columbus woman, Marilyn McIntyre, back in 1980. The cold case was reopened in 2007 when Osterhaus received an email request from McIntyre’s family to take another look into the murder investigation to give their family some peace of mind. Chief Weiner said that the case looked “pretty solid” and this could close the case of a 29-year-old unsolved murder.
Storm Cleanup Begins
3/25/09 - Beaver Dam received about two-point-two inches of rain during a 24-hour period starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday. That’s according to workers at the waste water treatment plant on the south side of the city. Even with all that rain the Beaver Dam River is still more than a foot below flood stage. Meanwhile, the Rock River is just below its flood stage in Watertown and it’s the same story for the Crawfish River at Milford. Other towns have not been as fortunate as the Rock was almost two-feet over its banks in the town of Afton this morning. There have been no reports of significant house flooding, but flood warnings continue. There was also some severe weather in far southern Wisconsin. Authorities said a barn with 30 cows inside blew down near Janesville late last night. Numerous trees and power lines went down in Rock County. Kenosha Police said large trees were uprooted, and street signs fell. Winds hit 57-miles-an-hour at Brooklyn in Dane County.
John Doe Law Advances
3/25/09 - Wisconsin senators voted Tuesday to let judges decide on their own whether to pursue criminal investigations. The John Doe law – which is more than a century old – requires judges to investigate cases brought to them by people like prisoners, who say prosecutors would never give them a fair shake. In the last session, a Waupun prison guard was the target of an assault charge that was never proven. Others complained that prisoners were abusing the system and using the hearings to get out their jail cell. Republicans then went to bat for the guards, voting to require that prosecutors review their cases. The final bill is a compromise. It requires a review by prosecutors – but if they do nothing, a judge can still file a charge if he-or-she chooses.
Man Picks Up 5th OWI
3/25/09 - A traffic stop yesterday afternoon resulted in a man being arrested for his 5th OWI. 58-year-old Richard A. Hoffman was pulled over on Highway B in the Town of Beaver Dam just after 3pm. The Sheriff’s Department arrested Hoffman for allegedly being intoxicated and took him to jail. He was cited for 5th OWI and Operating after Revocation.
Horicon Applying for Grants to Upgrade City Parks
3/25/09 - The Horicon City Council approved a motion that allows for MSA Professional Services to apply for grants to improve a number of parks in the city. Horicon will pay MSA no more than $3,000 to apply for the grants, with the biggest being $290,000 which would be used at River Bend Park. If they are approved for that grant the city would have 18-months to use it or return it to the DNR.
Toxicology Tests Ordered in West Bend Fatality
3/25/09 - Washington County authorities have ordered toxicology tests to see if a West Bend woman had alcohol in her system when she died from a one-car crash. Investigators said 27-year-old Loraine Chapman had just dropped off three people before her crash early Monday – and one of them said she was drinking earlier. Officials said her vehicle was apparently going too fast when she lost control on a curve and hit a tree. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Autopsy results are pending.
WPD Joins WICAC
3/25/09 - The Watertown Police Department is the latest to join the Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen says there has been an increase in crimes against children on the internet and membership in the task force will help keep the children of Watertown safe. As part of this affiliation, the Watertown Police Department is eligible for: reimbursement to help fund computer hardware and software; priority for training investigative assistance and access to forensic computer analysts throughout the state. The Watertown Police Department will have a detective specially trained in investigating internet crimes involving children. The Task Force has been in existence for 10 years and Van Hollen says in that time, members have arrested 540 suspects, executed 647 search warrants, and rescued countless numbers of children throughout the state. According to Van Hollen, there are over 22,000 internet protocol addresses in Wisconsin containing and offering to distribute known images of child pornography. One in seven children are asked online to engage in sexual activities, sexual talk, or provide personal sexual information. The number of local law enforcement partners to the Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has more than doubled - to 74 - in the past year. Watertown is the first Dodge County department to join. Anyone with information on a crime involving a child or a child predator is asked to contact the police department at 920-261-6660. For more information on how your community can become an affiliate of the Wisconsin ICAC Task Force contact Craig Klyve at (608) 266-1221, klyvecs@doj.state.wi.us or Kris Midthun at (715) 839-3831, midthunkm@doj.state.wi.us.
Horicon Extends Current School Year
3/25/09 - Students in the Horicon School District have lost two days of summer vacation. The school board this week voted to extend the current school year by two days to make up for the snow days used this past winter. The school year was originally set to end with a half-day on Tuesday, June 9. The last day – is still a half day – but it will instead be on Thursday, June 11.
Candidate Focus - Waupun School Board: Harper Vs. Paul
3/25/09 - In the race for the one contested seat on the Waupun School Board both candidates are against the closing of the three elementary schools. The April 7 election comes on the heels of a failed school funding referendum that led to a 6 to 1 school board decision to close the schools. Ron Paul says it was wrong for incumbent Percy Harper to vote in favor of going to referendum in the first place. He says the money to keep the school open should have come from the general fund. Incumbent Percy Harper says going to referendum was the right thing to do for the kids in the district. Harper says the district can’t afford to take any more money from the general fund without affecting its ability to borrow money.
Phosphorus Ban Moves Forward
3/25/09 - Wisconsin senators voted unanimously yesterday (Tue) to ban phosphorus from most lawn fertilizers. The Assembly approved the ban earlier – but the Senate made a technical change, so it has to go back to the Assembly before it can go to the governor for his signature. Governor Doyle is expected to approve the measure. It would bar phosphorus from lawn fertilizers except on new lawns, and if soil tests show there’s too little of the chemical that’s made naturally. The goal is to keep phosphorus out of lakes-and-streams, where it’s been known to create damaging algae. The ban does not apply to farm-land.
Attorney’s Support Abrahamson
3/25/09 - Attorneys in Waukesha County say Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson is more qualified than her opponent in next month’s election. Just over 175 members of the county bar association answered a poll-by-mail. And 127 of them rated Abrahamson as highly qualified – and 29 gave her a slightly lower rating of qualified. Only 13 attorneys, or less than 10-percent, said Abrahamson was not qualified. Her challenger, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Randy Koschnick, was rated as highly qualified by 33 bar members. Forty-one others said he was qualified, and 43 said he was not qualified. Abrahamson has been on the Supreme Court for 32 years, and has been the chief justice for the last 13. Koschnick has been on the Jefferson County bench for a decade. About a-third of the Waukesha County bar members responded to the survey.
3/25/09 - The Columbus Council chambers broke into a round of applause last night when Mayor Nancy Osterhaus and Police Chief Dennis Weiner announced the arrest of a suspect in a 29-year-old unsolved murder. A 51-year-old Randolph man, Curtis Forbes is in custody in Columbia County jail as a result of the Columbus “cold case” investigation. Forbes was arrested yesterday and is facing charges in the murder of a Columbus woman, Marilyn McIntyre, back in 1980. The cold case was reopened in 2007 when Osterhaus received an email request from McIntyre’s family to take another look into the murder investigation to give their family some peace of mind. Chief Weiner said that the case looked “pretty solid” and this could close the case of a 29-year-old unsolved murder.
Storm Cleanup Begins
3/25/09 - Beaver Dam received about two-point-two inches of rain during a 24-hour period starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday. That’s according to workers at the waste water treatment plant on the south side of the city. Even with all that rain the Beaver Dam River is still more than a foot below flood stage. Meanwhile, the Rock River is just below its flood stage in Watertown and it’s the same story for the Crawfish River at Milford. Other towns have not been as fortunate as the Rock was almost two-feet over its banks in the town of Afton this morning. There have been no reports of significant house flooding, but flood warnings continue. There was also some severe weather in far southern Wisconsin. Authorities said a barn with 30 cows inside blew down near Janesville late last night. Numerous trees and power lines went down in Rock County. Kenosha Police said large trees were uprooted, and street signs fell. Winds hit 57-miles-an-hour at Brooklyn in Dane County.
John Doe Law Advances
3/25/09 - Wisconsin senators voted Tuesday to let judges decide on their own whether to pursue criminal investigations. The John Doe law – which is more than a century old – requires judges to investigate cases brought to them by people like prisoners, who say prosecutors would never give them a fair shake. In the last session, a Waupun prison guard was the target of an assault charge that was never proven. Others complained that prisoners were abusing the system and using the hearings to get out their jail cell. Republicans then went to bat for the guards, voting to require that prosecutors review their cases. The final bill is a compromise. It requires a review by prosecutors – but if they do nothing, a judge can still file a charge if he-or-she chooses.
Man Picks Up 5th OWI
3/25/09 - A traffic stop yesterday afternoon resulted in a man being arrested for his 5th OWI. 58-year-old Richard A. Hoffman was pulled over on Highway B in the Town of Beaver Dam just after 3pm. The Sheriff’s Department arrested Hoffman for allegedly being intoxicated and took him to jail. He was cited for 5th OWI and Operating after Revocation.
Horicon Applying for Grants to Upgrade City Parks
3/25/09 - The Horicon City Council approved a motion that allows for MSA Professional Services to apply for grants to improve a number of parks in the city. Horicon will pay MSA no more than $3,000 to apply for the grants, with the biggest being $290,000 which would be used at River Bend Park. If they are approved for that grant the city would have 18-months to use it or return it to the DNR.
Toxicology Tests Ordered in West Bend Fatality
3/25/09 - Washington County authorities have ordered toxicology tests to see if a West Bend woman had alcohol in her system when she died from a one-car crash. Investigators said 27-year-old Loraine Chapman had just dropped off three people before her crash early Monday – and one of them said she was drinking earlier. Officials said her vehicle was apparently going too fast when she lost control on a curve and hit a tree. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Autopsy results are pending.
WPD Joins WICAC
3/25/09 - The Watertown Police Department is the latest to join the Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen says there has been an increase in crimes against children on the internet and membership in the task force will help keep the children of Watertown safe. As part of this affiliation, the Watertown Police Department is eligible for: reimbursement to help fund computer hardware and software; priority for training investigative assistance and access to forensic computer analysts throughout the state. The Watertown Police Department will have a detective specially trained in investigating internet crimes involving children. The Task Force has been in existence for 10 years and Van Hollen says in that time, members have arrested 540 suspects, executed 647 search warrants, and rescued countless numbers of children throughout the state. According to Van Hollen, there are over 22,000 internet protocol addresses in Wisconsin containing and offering to distribute known images of child pornography. One in seven children are asked online to engage in sexual activities, sexual talk, or provide personal sexual information. The number of local law enforcement partners to the Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has more than doubled - to 74 - in the past year. Watertown is the first Dodge County department to join. Anyone with information on a crime involving a child or a child predator is asked to contact the police department at 920-261-6660. For more information on how your community can become an affiliate of the Wisconsin ICAC Task Force contact Craig Klyve at (608) 266-1221, klyvecs@doj.state.wi.us or Kris Midthun at (715) 839-3831, midthunkm@doj.state.wi.us.
Horicon Extends Current School Year
3/25/09 - Students in the Horicon School District have lost two days of summer vacation. The school board this week voted to extend the current school year by two days to make up for the snow days used this past winter. The school year was originally set to end with a half-day on Tuesday, June 9. The last day – is still a half day – but it will instead be on Thursday, June 11.
Candidate Focus - Waupun School Board: Harper Vs. Paul
3/25/09 - In the race for the one contested seat on the Waupun School Board both candidates are against the closing of the three elementary schools. The April 7 election comes on the heels of a failed school funding referendum that led to a 6 to 1 school board decision to close the schools. Ron Paul says it was wrong for incumbent Percy Harper to vote in favor of going to referendum in the first place. He says the money to keep the school open should have come from the general fund. Incumbent Percy Harper says going to referendum was the right thing to do for the kids in the district. Harper says the district can’t afford to take any more money from the general fund without affecting its ability to borrow money.
Phosphorus Ban Moves Forward
3/25/09 - Wisconsin senators voted unanimously yesterday (Tue) to ban phosphorus from most lawn fertilizers. The Assembly approved the ban earlier – but the Senate made a technical change, so it has to go back to the Assembly before it can go to the governor for his signature. Governor Doyle is expected to approve the measure. It would bar phosphorus from lawn fertilizers except on new lawns, and if soil tests show there’s too little of the chemical that’s made naturally. The goal is to keep phosphorus out of lakes-and-streams, where it’s been known to create damaging algae. The ban does not apply to farm-land.
Attorney’s Support Abrahamson
3/25/09 - Attorneys in Waukesha County say Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson is more qualified than her opponent in next month’s election. Just over 175 members of the county bar association answered a poll-by-mail. And 127 of them rated Abrahamson as highly qualified – and 29 gave her a slightly lower rating of qualified. Only 13 attorneys, or less than 10-percent, said Abrahamson was not qualified. Her challenger, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Randy Koschnick, was rated as highly qualified by 33 bar members. Forty-one others said he was qualified, and 43 said he was not qualified. Abrahamson has been on the Supreme Court for 32 years, and has been the chief justice for the last 13. Koschnick has been on the Jefferson County bench for a decade. About a-third of the Waukesha County bar members responded to the survey.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Top Stories March 24th
Executive Director Named At YMCA
3/24/09 - The YMCA of Dodge County has a new Executive Director. Jen Kruel was unanimously selected by the board of trustees to immediately assume the top spot. Kruel has been interim Director since the departure of Bill Bray late last year and had previously served as Associate Executive Director and Business Manager. Board President Ben Beal-Loeck says Kruel had the experience to make her the ideal candidate for the job. Kruel tells us it was a tremendous benefit for her to serve as interim director for the past few months, and now that she has been made permanent, she is extremely excited to move forward.
Horicon School Board Hears Liaison Request
3/24/09 - Horicon Police Chief Joe Adamson encouraged the school board last night to consider grant funding to hire a school liaison officer. Adamson says economic stimulus funds could be used to pay for the first three years of an entry-level position. The city and district would have to cover a minimum of one additional year, estimated at $70,000. PTO President Katie Schmidt says her organization specializes in fundraisers and they would work to come up with the school’s half of the money. There were some people in the audience who were against the plan. Judy Harned told the board the district can’t afford it and their main goal should be worrying how to fund teaching positions. The matter was not on the agenda for discussion last night. The application deadline is April 14.
Beaver Dam River Rising
3/24/09 - Over saturated ground and consistent rain over the past few days has led local rivers to rise. That’s according to the National Weather Service who says the Beaver Dam River is considered to be in action stage. However, the river is still more than a foot-and-a-half below flood stage. The National Weather Service says “action stage” is the stage at which some sort of action is taken for the river point. It may be flooding of secondary roads or just a "heads up" that the river is rising. Meanwhile, the Rock River in Watertown is still in its action stage but shows a decline over the past 24-hours. At Milford, the Crawfish River dropped below its flood stage last Friday but still remains in the action stage as well.
Dodgeland Superintendent Search Down to 8
3/24/09 - The number of candidates for the Superintendents position in the Dodgeland School District has been narrowed down to 8. Board Member Kathryn Zwieg says they were initially going to narrow the list down to six but they were told eight of the 25 who applied were very good candidates. The process will now move on the interview phase next month, which Zwieg says will involve board members, staff, and community members. Once the committees complete the interviews they’ll narrow the candidates down to two and the board will then vote one to take the place of Ron Vaughn, who resigned in January.
3/24/09 - The number of candidates for the Superintendents position in the Dodgeland School District has been narrowed down to 8. Board Member Kathryn Zwieg says they were initially going to narrow the list down to six but they were told eight of the 25 who applied were very good candidates. The process will now move on the interview phase next month, which Zwieg says will involve board members, staff, and community members. Once the committees complete the interviews they’ll narrow the candidates down to two and the board will then vote one to take the place of Ron Vaughn, who resigned in January.
Industrial Park Roads Green Lighted
3/24/09 - The Beaver Dam Operations Committee last night gave the go-ahead to engineers to seek bids for road construction in the new portion of the Industrial Drive Business Park. Mike Lau with MSA Professional Services estimates the cost of construction of Commercial Drive, which would connect to Highway 33, at $610,000. Additional plans to extend Green Valley Road from a current dead-end to Commercial Drive would start at $65,000, for a gravel roadway. The bulk of the money would come from the remaining funds generated by the business parks Tax Increment Finance District. If all goes according to plan, Lau says ground could be broken in early May.
Jackson Charged for OWI With Injuries
3/24/09 - A Fox Lake woman is accused of driving drunk and injuring another motorist in a head-on collision. 27-year-old Tricia L. Jackson was driving on her third OWI in January when authorities say she veered out of her lane on Wayland Street in Beaver Dam and struck the other vehicle. A 31-year-old man in that other vehicle sustained minor injuries. Authorities determined Jackson’s blood alcohol level was below the legal limit of point-zero-eight (.08) but, because she had previous convictions, she was charged for being above the prohibited concentration level of point-zero-two (.02). Jackson had a signature bond set at $500 and a return date scheduled for April 20.
Lawns Damaged in BD Drag Race
3/24/09 - Authorities in Beaver Dam are looking for the pick-up trucks that damaged several lawns while drag racing this weekend. The department received a call just before 2:30am early Saturday morning reporting that two trucks were racing down Charlton Street. Lawn damage was reported on the 100 and 200 blocks of Charlton, the 300 block of East Main Street, the 500 block of Burnett and along school property on McKinley Street. The suspect vehicle was described as a black Ford truck. Information should be directed to the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME, or by calling the Beaver Dam Police Department at 887-4614.
Wisconsin Actors Appeal To Doyle
3/24/09 - Two Wisconsin-born actors have asked Governor Jim Doyle not to trash the state’s tax credits for movie-and-T-V production. Jane Kacmarek, formerly of the Milwaukee area, and her husband Bradley Whitford from Madison wrote the governor and legislative leaders to ask that the credits be continued. Doyle omitted the one-year-old movie tax credits from his proposed state budget. He said taxpayers gave the producers of the film “Public Enemies” over four-and-a-half million dollars with not much of a economic return to show for it. But Kaczmarek and Whitford said one year is not enough time to judge the success of the incentive program. And they said Doyle’s alternative of a half-million-dollars in annual grants is not enough. Kaczmarek and Whitford said they’d love to film in their home state, but it won’t happen unless Doyle revives the tax credits. Kaczmarek is best known for playing the mother on the comedy “Malcolm in the Middle,” and Whitford starred on the White House drama “The West Wing.” A Doyle spokesman did not have an immediate comment on the letter.
Fitzgerald Supports Hearing Aid Bill
3/24/09 - Assembly Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald told us on WBEV’s Community Comment that he will support a bill making its way through the legislature that would require insurance companies to cover the costs of hearing aids and cochlear implants. The Republican from Horicon says several of his constituents in the Beaver Dam-area convinced him of the need. Fitzgerald says once you look at the costs to school districts associated with providing teachers aids for hearing impaired students, it only makes sense. An estimated 200 children are born in Wisconsin each year with some level of hearing impairment.
West Bend Woman Killed in Crash
3/24/09 - Washington County Sheriff's officials say 27-year-old Lori Chapman of West Bend was driving too fast for conditions when her car went off State Highway 144 early Monday morning and struck a tree. Chapman died at the scene. She was not wearing a seatbelt. She was the second person killed in a traffic accident in the County this year. (KFIZ)
Watertown Airport Getting Upgrades
3/24/09 - Governor Jim Doyle has approved more than 56-hundred-dollars for improvements at the Watertown Airport. The money will spend to replace the rotating beacon at the airport which Project Manger Craig Butler says will greatly enhance safety during night and low light conditions by making it easier for pilots to locate the airport from the air. The Governors action releases the state fund for the project, and the city of Watertown will contribute personnel and equipment to install the new unit. The project is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Pfizer Incorporated Plans to Fight Ruling
3/24/09 - A drug maker says it will fight Wisconsin’s effort to get it to pay 225-million dollars for overcharging the state’s Medicaid programs. Attorney General J-B Van Hollen is seeking those damages, after a Madison jury ruled in the state’s favor last month against a subsidiary of Pfizer Incorporated. It was one of three dozen similar suits filed by former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager in 2004. She accused the firms of overcharging taxpayers for the medicines used in state programs like Badger Care and Senior Care. Pfizer still believes no damages are warranted. It says Van Hollen’s compensation request is excessive, and it plans to appeal the jury’s ruling. A court hearing on the damages is set for May 12th.
Cranes Back in Necedah
3/24/09 - Here’s another sure sign of spring. Eleven wild cranes have returned to their summer nesting spot at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin. That’s where baby cranes are reared each summer before they fly as a group to Florida, and try to rebuild the population of the endangered species. Many cranes go back-and-forth on their own after their first years. The current flock now has 87 birds – including 14 that were led to Florida last fall. There’s only one other large flock of whooping cranes in this part of North America. It spends its winters in Texas, and its summers in Canada.
3/24/09 - Washington County Sheriff's officials say 27-year-old Lori Chapman of West Bend was driving too fast for conditions when her car went off State Highway 144 early Monday morning and struck a tree. Chapman died at the scene. She was not wearing a seatbelt. She was the second person killed in a traffic accident in the County this year. (KFIZ)
Watertown Airport Getting Upgrades
3/24/09 - Governor Jim Doyle has approved more than 56-hundred-dollars for improvements at the Watertown Airport. The money will spend to replace the rotating beacon at the airport which Project Manger Craig Butler says will greatly enhance safety during night and low light conditions by making it easier for pilots to locate the airport from the air. The Governors action releases the state fund for the project, and the city of Watertown will contribute personnel and equipment to install the new unit. The project is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Pfizer Incorporated Plans to Fight Ruling
3/24/09 - A drug maker says it will fight Wisconsin’s effort to get it to pay 225-million dollars for overcharging the state’s Medicaid programs. Attorney General J-B Van Hollen is seeking those damages, after a Madison jury ruled in the state’s favor last month against a subsidiary of Pfizer Incorporated. It was one of three dozen similar suits filed by former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager in 2004. She accused the firms of overcharging taxpayers for the medicines used in state programs like Badger Care and Senior Care. Pfizer still believes no damages are warranted. It says Van Hollen’s compensation request is excessive, and it plans to appeal the jury’s ruling. A court hearing on the damages is set for May 12th.
Cranes Back in Necedah
3/24/09 - Here’s another sure sign of spring. Eleven wild cranes have returned to their summer nesting spot at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin. That’s where baby cranes are reared each summer before they fly as a group to Florida, and try to rebuild the population of the endangered species. Many cranes go back-and-forth on their own after their first years. The current flock now has 87 birds – including 14 that were led to Florida last fall. There’s only one other large flock of whooping cranes in this part of North America. It spends its winters in Texas, and its summers in Canada.
Candidates on Community Comment
3/24/09 - Over the next two weeks on our sister station 1430 WBEV, we'll be talking to the candidates in several of our area’s contested races on our Community Comment program. We begin Tuesday in Fox Lake, where the Waupun School District has voted to close down the elementary school. Incumbent school board member Percy Harper is looking to retain his seat against challenger Ron Paul. Wednesday, we look at the first of two contested aldermanic races in the city of Beaver Dam. In Ward 3, incumbent Glen Link faces challenger Kenneth Anderson. On Thursday, we’ll hear from Ward 1 incumbent Clancy Knaup and his opponent Donna Fuhrman. We’ll get all the details on the Horicon School funding referendum on Friday when we welcome Superintendent Gary Berger. Next week, we continue our coverage with Columbus mayoral candidates Bob Link and Peter Kaland. We round out our coverage with the Beaver Dam school board, where candidates Erin Broome, Robert Castro, Daniel Feuling, Gary Spielman, Del Yaroch and incumbent Marge Jorgensen are competing for three open seats.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Top Stories March 23rd
Fire Destroys Town of Alto Barn
3/23/09 - Six fire departments battled a fire in the Town of Alto this morning to no avail. Fond du Lac County Sheriff's officials say the barn Brian Bresser owned at W12480 Amity Road in Brandon was completely destroyed by the blaze. The fire also took the lives of 58 head of livestock and consumed the crops stored in the loft area. No one was hurt putting out the fire and the cause is not considered suspicious. The fire was reported to the Sheriff's Department just before 2 a.m. (KFIZ)
Two Fires in Dodge County Sunday
3/23/09 - Firefighters were called to a house fire in the Town of Ashippun late last night. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says they were called out to a small fire at North 24-97 Highway 67 around 11. The fire was contained to the back side of the home. No word on how much damage was done to the home. Meanwhile, just after noon yesterday Columbus firefighters responded to a fire at West 119-50 Moriah Road in the town of Calamus. Officials say a controlled burn got out of control but they were able to extinguish it quickly.
Wisconsin and Marquette Lose in 2nd Round of NCAA’s
3/23/09 - March Madness moves on without a Wisconsin team. Marquette and the Badgers both lost yesterday in the second round of the N-C-A-A men’s basketball tournament. Sixth-seeded Marquette ended its season with a last-minute loss to number-three Missouri, 83-to-79 in the West Regional. And 12th-seeded Wisconsin lost its bid for a second straight upset, falling to number-four Xavier 60-to-49 in an East Regional. The Marquette loss helped all the one, two, and three seeds go undefeated in the first weekend for the first time ever. And thanks to Wisconsin’s loss, two regions – the East and the South – have their top-four seeds in the Sweet-16 for the first time since 1991.
UW Women’s Hockey Team Wins National Title
3/23/09 - The Wisconsin women’s hockey team won its third national crown in four years, after shutting out Mercyhurst 5-nothing yesterday in the N-C-A-A title game in Boston. Senior goal-tender Jessie Vetter – who won the Patty Kazmaier award this weekend as the nation’s top player – was named the tournament’s M-V-P. Vetter had 37 saves in posting her 39th career shut-out. Angie Keseley had a goal and two assists, as coach Mark Johnson’s Badgers capped off an N-C-A-A-best 34-2-and-5 season. They’ll be honored this evening in a welcome-home ceremony at the Kohl Center.
Citizens Police Academy Week 3: Drug Investigations and K9 Training
3/23/09 - The Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy spent Week Three of training learning about drug investigations. In the first half of the class, the fourteen cadets heard about drug deals in city parking lots and undercover operations that shed light on the black market of local narcotics trafficking. And then in they went into the lab where they used a chemical reaction to determine if a green leafy substance was marijuana; it was. The second half of the evening was spent getting acquainted with the department’s canine unit. Beaver Dam Police officer Bill Linzenmeyer, the coordinator of the Academy, says the canine unit serves a vital function in the department. Nine-year-old Allie is more than a drug-dog; she is a utility dog, not only capable of identifying four different types of narcotics, but also useful in tracking down missing persons and trailing runaway suspects. Citizen Cadet Deborah Lins is the Associate Principal of the Beaver Dam High School. Lins has had first-hand experience with the occasional contraband check on campus, but she says it is invaluable to understand all the work that goes into equipping and maintaining all the personnel in the department. In the next class, the Citizens Police Academy will learn about OWI procedures. As part of the training, they will go through the procedures of conducting an actual traffic stop and they’ll be working with volunteers who are actually inebriated.
Gas Leaps Above $2 in BD
3/23/09 - After months of teetering on the edge, area gas prices jumped over two dollars this weekend. A number of stations in Beaver Dam had gas for $2.04, while a few still were selling at a $1.99. As of late Sunday, gas could still be had at a 1.94 in Appleton while some customers in Waterford were paying as much as $2.09 a gallon. Statewide, the average price is $2.02 up 12-cents over the past week but still nearly a 1.25-less than a year ago at this time.
DC Highway Department Finds a More Permanent Fix
3/23/09 - A new machine is making the job of filling potholes easier this spring for the Dodge County Highway Department. Commissioner Brian Field says the department rented a machine that allows for a more permanent patch job than in previous years. Field says in the past the county was unable to get any hot mix until the plant that made it opened in May. However, with the machine they rented they can turn cold mix into hot mix leading to the patch job being more permanent. And the machine could pay dividends over the next few weeks as potholes are popping up more frequently. Actually, the Highway Commission has posted a 10-ton weight limit on a number of county roadways. Because of the frost/thaw cycle and increased traffic due to the Highway 33 reconstruction the county is starting to experience damage and pavement failure. The limits are considered seasonal and will be lifted when its determined the thaw is complete. The roads include County Highway S from state Highway 26 to state Highway 67; County Highway E from County Highway S to the city of Horicon; County Highway E from County Highway R in Hustisford to County Highway S; and County Highway TW from County Highway S to state Highway 33.
Watertown Has First “Telestroke” Arrangement
3/23/09 - Stroke victims at the Watertown hospital now have a good chance of getting the drugs they need due to Wisconsin’s first “telestroke” arrangement. The Watertown Regional Medical Center will now be able to consult stroke specialists at the UW-Hospital through a web camera, and the Madison doctors will be able to view CAT scans and other tests in diagnosing patients. According to a doctor at the UW-Hospital the program could help more patients get the drugs or other treatment they need quicker than ever before.
$37M Coming to Wisconsin for Military Upgrades
3/23/09 - Wisconsin military instillations will get more than 37-million dollars as part of the economic stimulus package in an effort to restore and modernize their facilities. Senator Russ Feingold announced the dispersal of money and said the funding will help put Wisconsinites back to work while at the same time improving the states defense infrastructure. The money will pay for 29 individual projects at 13 facilities, including the Army National Guard post in West Bend. The Aviation Support Facility will get a light fixture upgrade at the cost of about $143,000 dollars. A majority of the 37-million-dollars will be spent at Fort McCoy where 14-million-dollars will be spent on renovations for the World War II-era barracks.
Three Fatal Accidents in Waukesha
3/23/09 - Waukesha County had three fatal traffic crashes during the weekend. A motorcyclist was killed late yesterday afternoon, when the bike hit an S-U-V in downtown Waukesha and got trapped underneath the vehicle. Also yesterday, a 43-year-old Waukesha man was killed when his motorcycle left County Trunk “D” in the town of Ottawa and hit several trees. Neither victim’s name was immediately released. On Saturday, 26-year-old Gerald Rutz of New Berlin died after his car went into a ditch and hit a tree. Investigators said it was going over a hundred miles an hour and went airborne on a hillcrest when it veered out of control. Officials said the car split in two and kept sliding on farmland before it came to rest.
Bill Would Allow for Payment Plans on Unpaid Fines
Low-income offenders for traffic and ordinance violations could keep their driver’s licenses while paying their fines, under a bill in the state Legislature. Governor Jim Doyle is likely to sign it, since his proposed state budget would allow all traffic fines to be paid in installments. Right now, licenses are suspended until those fines are paid but 150-thousnad people lost their licenses in 2007 with a majority coming from unpaid fines. This bill would give drivers one chance to follow a payment plan. And if they blow it, they’d lose the privilege. Doyle’s office says too many people cannot legally drive to work because they can’t pay their fines. But some opponents of the bill say paying fines is a personal responsibility – and they’re worried about the administrative costs of requiring installments. The Senate has passed it, and the Assembly will act on it tomorrow.
3/23/09 - Six fire departments battled a fire in the Town of Alto this morning to no avail. Fond du Lac County Sheriff's officials say the barn Brian Bresser owned at W12480 Amity Road in Brandon was completely destroyed by the blaze. The fire also took the lives of 58 head of livestock and consumed the crops stored in the loft area. No one was hurt putting out the fire and the cause is not considered suspicious. The fire was reported to the Sheriff's Department just before 2 a.m. (KFIZ)
Two Fires in Dodge County Sunday
3/23/09 - Firefighters were called to a house fire in the Town of Ashippun late last night. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says they were called out to a small fire at North 24-97 Highway 67 around 11. The fire was contained to the back side of the home. No word on how much damage was done to the home. Meanwhile, just after noon yesterday Columbus firefighters responded to a fire at West 119-50 Moriah Road in the town of Calamus. Officials say a controlled burn got out of control but they were able to extinguish it quickly.
Wisconsin and Marquette Lose in 2nd Round of NCAA’s
3/23/09 - March Madness moves on without a Wisconsin team. Marquette and the Badgers both lost yesterday in the second round of the N-C-A-A men’s basketball tournament. Sixth-seeded Marquette ended its season with a last-minute loss to number-three Missouri, 83-to-79 in the West Regional. And 12th-seeded Wisconsin lost its bid for a second straight upset, falling to number-four Xavier 60-to-49 in an East Regional. The Marquette loss helped all the one, two, and three seeds go undefeated in the first weekend for the first time ever. And thanks to Wisconsin’s loss, two regions – the East and the South – have their top-four seeds in the Sweet-16 for the first time since 1991.
UW Women’s Hockey Team Wins National Title
3/23/09 - The Wisconsin women’s hockey team won its third national crown in four years, after shutting out Mercyhurst 5-nothing yesterday in the N-C-A-A title game in Boston. Senior goal-tender Jessie Vetter – who won the Patty Kazmaier award this weekend as the nation’s top player – was named the tournament’s M-V-P. Vetter had 37 saves in posting her 39th career shut-out. Angie Keseley had a goal and two assists, as coach Mark Johnson’s Badgers capped off an N-C-A-A-best 34-2-and-5 season. They’ll be honored this evening in a welcome-home ceremony at the Kohl Center.
Citizens Police Academy Week 3: Drug Investigations and K9 Training
3/23/09 - The Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy spent Week Three of training learning about drug investigations. In the first half of the class, the fourteen cadets heard about drug deals in city parking lots and undercover operations that shed light on the black market of local narcotics trafficking. And then in they went into the lab where they used a chemical reaction to determine if a green leafy substance was marijuana; it was. The second half of the evening was spent getting acquainted with the department’s canine unit. Beaver Dam Police officer Bill Linzenmeyer, the coordinator of the Academy, says the canine unit serves a vital function in the department. Nine-year-old Allie is more than a drug-dog; she is a utility dog, not only capable of identifying four different types of narcotics, but also useful in tracking down missing persons and trailing runaway suspects. Citizen Cadet Deborah Lins is the Associate Principal of the Beaver Dam High School. Lins has had first-hand experience with the occasional contraband check on campus, but she says it is invaluable to understand all the work that goes into equipping and maintaining all the personnel in the department. In the next class, the Citizens Police Academy will learn about OWI procedures. As part of the training, they will go through the procedures of conducting an actual traffic stop and they’ll be working with volunteers who are actually inebriated.
Gas Leaps Above $2 in BD
3/23/09 - After months of teetering on the edge, area gas prices jumped over two dollars this weekend. A number of stations in Beaver Dam had gas for $2.04, while a few still were selling at a $1.99. As of late Sunday, gas could still be had at a 1.94 in Appleton while some customers in Waterford were paying as much as $2.09 a gallon. Statewide, the average price is $2.02 up 12-cents over the past week but still nearly a 1.25-less than a year ago at this time.
DC Highway Department Finds a More Permanent Fix
3/23/09 - A new machine is making the job of filling potholes easier this spring for the Dodge County Highway Department. Commissioner Brian Field says the department rented a machine that allows for a more permanent patch job than in previous years. Field says in the past the county was unable to get any hot mix until the plant that made it opened in May. However, with the machine they rented they can turn cold mix into hot mix leading to the patch job being more permanent. And the machine could pay dividends over the next few weeks as potholes are popping up more frequently. Actually, the Highway Commission has posted a 10-ton weight limit on a number of county roadways. Because of the frost/thaw cycle and increased traffic due to the Highway 33 reconstruction the county is starting to experience damage and pavement failure. The limits are considered seasonal and will be lifted when its determined the thaw is complete. The roads include County Highway S from state Highway 26 to state Highway 67; County Highway E from County Highway S to the city of Horicon; County Highway E from County Highway R in Hustisford to County Highway S; and County Highway TW from County Highway S to state Highway 33.
Watertown Has First “Telestroke” Arrangement
3/23/09 - Stroke victims at the Watertown hospital now have a good chance of getting the drugs they need due to Wisconsin’s first “telestroke” arrangement. The Watertown Regional Medical Center will now be able to consult stroke specialists at the UW-Hospital through a web camera, and the Madison doctors will be able to view CAT scans and other tests in diagnosing patients. According to a doctor at the UW-Hospital the program could help more patients get the drugs or other treatment they need quicker than ever before.
$37M Coming to Wisconsin for Military Upgrades
3/23/09 - Wisconsin military instillations will get more than 37-million dollars as part of the economic stimulus package in an effort to restore and modernize their facilities. Senator Russ Feingold announced the dispersal of money and said the funding will help put Wisconsinites back to work while at the same time improving the states defense infrastructure. The money will pay for 29 individual projects at 13 facilities, including the Army National Guard post in West Bend. The Aviation Support Facility will get a light fixture upgrade at the cost of about $143,000 dollars. A majority of the 37-million-dollars will be spent at Fort McCoy where 14-million-dollars will be spent on renovations for the World War II-era barracks.
Three Fatal Accidents in Waukesha
3/23/09 - Waukesha County had three fatal traffic crashes during the weekend. A motorcyclist was killed late yesterday afternoon, when the bike hit an S-U-V in downtown Waukesha and got trapped underneath the vehicle. Also yesterday, a 43-year-old Waukesha man was killed when his motorcycle left County Trunk “D” in the town of Ottawa and hit several trees. Neither victim’s name was immediately released. On Saturday, 26-year-old Gerald Rutz of New Berlin died after his car went into a ditch and hit a tree. Investigators said it was going over a hundred miles an hour and went airborne on a hillcrest when it veered out of control. Officials said the car split in two and kept sliding on farmland before it came to rest.
Bill Would Allow for Payment Plans on Unpaid Fines
Low-income offenders for traffic and ordinance violations could keep their driver’s licenses while paying their fines, under a bill in the state Legislature. Governor Jim Doyle is likely to sign it, since his proposed state budget would allow all traffic fines to be paid in installments. Right now, licenses are suspended until those fines are paid but 150-thousnad people lost their licenses in 2007 with a majority coming from unpaid fines. This bill would give drivers one chance to follow a payment plan. And if they blow it, they’d lose the privilege. Doyle’s office says too many people cannot legally drive to work because they can’t pay their fines. But some opponents of the bill say paying fines is a personal responsibility – and they’re worried about the administrative costs of requiring installments. The Senate has passed it, and the Assembly will act on it tomorrow.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Top Stories March 22nd
UW Takes on Xavier in 2nd Round of NCAA’s
3/22/09 - Wisconsin meets Xavier in today's second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. That's not unusual. The Badgers are playing in their 11th straight tournament during March Madness -- and eight times they have made it past the first round. Xavier comes in with a four seed and a 26-7 record, meaning the Musketeers are favored. They roared past Portland State 77-59, while Wisconsin had to go overtime to edge Florida State 61-59. Xavier reached the Elite Eight last year. You can catch the game on 1430 WBEV beginning with the pre-game at 12:45.
Dominic James to Play for MU Today
3/22/09 - Nobody saw this coming: senior guard Dominic James will suit up and play in today's NCAA tournament game against Missouri for Marquette. James broke a bone in his foot almost a month ago, sending the Golden Eagles into a tailspin. He went through several tests Friday, then practiced with the team yesterday. This is a big lift for coach Buzz Williams' team as it faces a Mizzou squad known for a pressing defense. It isn't clear how much playing time James will get after sitting out for four weeks. While he was gone Marquette lost five of the seven games it played.
Fight at Mayville Bar
3/22/09 - Area authorities were forced to break up a large fight at a bar in Mayville this morning. According to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, they were called in to assist the Mayville police department at Sidelines on South Main Street around bar time. They say a large fight involving pool sticks was in progress. A 33-year-old man was arrested and taken to jail by Mayville officers. No word on the extent of damage or injuries.
SUV Crashes into Apartment Complex
3/22/09 - No one was injured when an SUV crashed into a senior apartment complex in Waupun Friday afternoon. According to the Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Department, 39-year-old Beth Volbright was southbound on Highway 151 just after noon when her vehicle left the roadway, entered the ditch, crashed through a fence before smashing into the southeast corner of the Gateway Senior Apartments. Only one of the three people who lived in the affected room was home at the time and they were uninjured. Volbright was taken to Waupun Memorial for observation but she reported no injuries. No word on what caused the accident and authorities say it is still under investigation.
Waupun Looking for New Chamber Director
3/22/09 - The Waupun Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for a new executive director. The chamber’s board of directors fired longtime head Ginger Kieltyka by a 9 to 1 vote recently. Chamber President Jeff Collien said their decision was based in part by feedback from members of the business community who felt the chamber needed to go in a different and more positive direction. Collien says they will be advertising for a new director, one they hope will bring more business participation. Media outlets contacted Kieltkya but she would not comment on the board’s decision.
More Than a Month After Falling Through Ice, Girl is Released from Hospital
3/22/09 - Five weeks after a Lake Winnebago accident that killed two people, seven year old Tiffany Dombrowski has been released from the hospital. She was in a pickup truck with her friend and the friend's father when the truck went into the water. Dan Kleinhans and his nine year old daughter Savannah died. The survivor was trapped under water for about 30 minutes. Doctors say she will need physical therapy, but she's able to walk, talk and understand what people are saying right now. She was released from Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa Friday afternoon.
Report: Early Detection Not Leading to Longer Life for Prostate Cancer Patients
3/22/09 - Despite screenings which are finding more tumors, men with prostate cancer aren't living longer. That's what Marshfield Clinic researchers found during a long study. The Marshfield Clinic's Dr. Doug Reding says the results show better prostate cancer screenings don't translate into a longer life for patients. The study began in 1992 to determine whether certain screening methods were effective in reducing deaths, not only from prostate cancer, but lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers as well. Of the more than 154 thousand participants,76 thousand were men. Marshfield Clinic enrolled 17 thousand patients ages 55-to-74. The results were released in Wednesday's on-line version of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Farm Land Going Fast in Wisconsin
3/22/09 - Wisconsin is losing farm land faster than ever before -- now at a rate of nearly 30 thousand acres a year. State Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen says rapid development is to blame. Wisconsin is now the top state in the Midwest when it comes to how quickly agricultural land is being diverted to other uses. To help stem the tide, the governor's proposed state budget includes the Working Lands Initiative. The program creates a mechanism for the state and local governments to work with farmers on preserving farm land and keeping it dedicated for agricultural uses.
Doyle’s Budget Angers Tobacco Industry
3/22/09 - Governor Doyle's proposed 75-cent per pack increase in the cigarette tax is drawing fire from tobacco companies. Bill Phelps, a spokesman for Phillip Morris, says the tax could actually hurt many small Wisconsin businesses by prompting them to look at cheaper options for getting cigarettes. Phelps argues that, instead of buying cigarettes at a convenience store, smokers will get them online or at a Native American casino. The increase would bring Wisconsin's per pack tax rate to two dollars, 52 cents, which could bring several hundred million dollars in new tax revenue to the state. Phelps says the math doesn't always work out that way though. He points to New Jersey, which raised its tax to 2-57 and actually lost 22 million dollars in revenue after the increase.
Student Facing Charges After Forging Notes
3/22/09 - A 17-year-old student has been identified as the author of a note that threatened a mass shooting at Black River Falls High School. The student has been referred to the Jackson County district attorney's office. Police say the student told them he planted the note that said he and a female friend were targets in a mass suicide and school shooting. Most of the school's 600 students stayed home on March 9 after rumors spread. The school was locked down for the entire week and metal detectors were installed, bags were searched and students were escorted to and from classes.
Janesville Authorities Looking into Mysterious Death
3/22/09 - Janesville investigators are hoping an autopsy done yesterday will tell them how 26 year old Edward Smith died. He was found in a wooded area where he and three others had been drinking the night before. Neighbors complained of the noise, so police told the four partiers they had to leave. One of the four went back Friday morning and found Smith dead. He called police. Investigators say they are treating the death as a suspicious one until the autopsy results are examined.
Testing Shows no CWD in Northern Wisconsin
3/22/09 - Testing of 87 hundred deer killed in 18 northern Wisconsin counties finds no signs of chronic wasting disease or tuberculosis. Wildlife experts are giving the region a clean bill of health. The DNR conducts tests like this in various parts of the state on a regular basis. A wildlife supervisor for the DNR says this is good evidence that chronic wasting disease has not spread from the state's southern counties. He says we're still taking a risk by allowing baiting and feeding of deer. Chronic wasting disease was first found near Mount Horeb seven years ago.
3/22/09 - Wisconsin meets Xavier in today's second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. That's not unusual. The Badgers are playing in their 11th straight tournament during March Madness -- and eight times they have made it past the first round. Xavier comes in with a four seed and a 26-7 record, meaning the Musketeers are favored. They roared past Portland State 77-59, while Wisconsin had to go overtime to edge Florida State 61-59. Xavier reached the Elite Eight last year. You can catch the game on 1430 WBEV beginning with the pre-game at 12:45.
Dominic James to Play for MU Today
3/22/09 - Nobody saw this coming: senior guard Dominic James will suit up and play in today's NCAA tournament game against Missouri for Marquette. James broke a bone in his foot almost a month ago, sending the Golden Eagles into a tailspin. He went through several tests Friday, then practiced with the team yesterday. This is a big lift for coach Buzz Williams' team as it faces a Mizzou squad known for a pressing defense. It isn't clear how much playing time James will get after sitting out for four weeks. While he was gone Marquette lost five of the seven games it played.
Fight at Mayville Bar
3/22/09 - Area authorities were forced to break up a large fight at a bar in Mayville this morning. According to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, they were called in to assist the Mayville police department at Sidelines on South Main Street around bar time. They say a large fight involving pool sticks was in progress. A 33-year-old man was arrested and taken to jail by Mayville officers. No word on the extent of damage or injuries.
SUV Crashes into Apartment Complex
3/22/09 - No one was injured when an SUV crashed into a senior apartment complex in Waupun Friday afternoon. According to the Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Department, 39-year-old Beth Volbright was southbound on Highway 151 just after noon when her vehicle left the roadway, entered the ditch, crashed through a fence before smashing into the southeast corner of the Gateway Senior Apartments. Only one of the three people who lived in the affected room was home at the time and they were uninjured. Volbright was taken to Waupun Memorial for observation but she reported no injuries. No word on what caused the accident and authorities say it is still under investigation.
Waupun Looking for New Chamber Director
3/22/09 - The Waupun Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for a new executive director. The chamber’s board of directors fired longtime head Ginger Kieltyka by a 9 to 1 vote recently. Chamber President Jeff Collien said their decision was based in part by feedback from members of the business community who felt the chamber needed to go in a different and more positive direction. Collien says they will be advertising for a new director, one they hope will bring more business participation. Media outlets contacted Kieltkya but she would not comment on the board’s decision.
More Than a Month After Falling Through Ice, Girl is Released from Hospital
3/22/09 - Five weeks after a Lake Winnebago accident that killed two people, seven year old Tiffany Dombrowski has been released from the hospital. She was in a pickup truck with her friend and the friend's father when the truck went into the water. Dan Kleinhans and his nine year old daughter Savannah died. The survivor was trapped under water for about 30 minutes. Doctors say she will need physical therapy, but she's able to walk, talk and understand what people are saying right now. She was released from Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa Friday afternoon.
Report: Early Detection Not Leading to Longer Life for Prostate Cancer Patients
3/22/09 - Despite screenings which are finding more tumors, men with prostate cancer aren't living longer. That's what Marshfield Clinic researchers found during a long study. The Marshfield Clinic's Dr. Doug Reding says the results show better prostate cancer screenings don't translate into a longer life for patients. The study began in 1992 to determine whether certain screening methods were effective in reducing deaths, not only from prostate cancer, but lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers as well. Of the more than 154 thousand participants,76 thousand were men. Marshfield Clinic enrolled 17 thousand patients ages 55-to-74. The results were released in Wednesday's on-line version of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Farm Land Going Fast in Wisconsin
3/22/09 - Wisconsin is losing farm land faster than ever before -- now at a rate of nearly 30 thousand acres a year. State Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen says rapid development is to blame. Wisconsin is now the top state in the Midwest when it comes to how quickly agricultural land is being diverted to other uses. To help stem the tide, the governor's proposed state budget includes the Working Lands Initiative. The program creates a mechanism for the state and local governments to work with farmers on preserving farm land and keeping it dedicated for agricultural uses.
Doyle’s Budget Angers Tobacco Industry
3/22/09 - Governor Doyle's proposed 75-cent per pack increase in the cigarette tax is drawing fire from tobacco companies. Bill Phelps, a spokesman for Phillip Morris, says the tax could actually hurt many small Wisconsin businesses by prompting them to look at cheaper options for getting cigarettes. Phelps argues that, instead of buying cigarettes at a convenience store, smokers will get them online or at a Native American casino. The increase would bring Wisconsin's per pack tax rate to two dollars, 52 cents, which could bring several hundred million dollars in new tax revenue to the state. Phelps says the math doesn't always work out that way though. He points to New Jersey, which raised its tax to 2-57 and actually lost 22 million dollars in revenue after the increase.
Student Facing Charges After Forging Notes
3/22/09 - A 17-year-old student has been identified as the author of a note that threatened a mass shooting at Black River Falls High School. The student has been referred to the Jackson County district attorney's office. Police say the student told them he planted the note that said he and a female friend were targets in a mass suicide and school shooting. Most of the school's 600 students stayed home on March 9 after rumors spread. The school was locked down for the entire week and metal detectors were installed, bags were searched and students were escorted to and from classes.
Janesville Authorities Looking into Mysterious Death
3/22/09 - Janesville investigators are hoping an autopsy done yesterday will tell them how 26 year old Edward Smith died. He was found in a wooded area where he and three others had been drinking the night before. Neighbors complained of the noise, so police told the four partiers they had to leave. One of the four went back Friday morning and found Smith dead. He called police. Investigators say they are treating the death as a suspicious one until the autopsy results are examined.
Testing Shows no CWD in Northern Wisconsin
3/22/09 - Testing of 87 hundred deer killed in 18 northern Wisconsin counties finds no signs of chronic wasting disease or tuberculosis. Wildlife experts are giving the region a clean bill of health. The DNR conducts tests like this in various parts of the state on a regular basis. A wildlife supervisor for the DNR says this is good evidence that chronic wasting disease has not spread from the state's southern counties. He says we're still taking a risk by allowing baiting and feeding of deer. Chronic wasting disease was first found near Mount Horeb seven years ago.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Top Stories March 20th
Van Hollen Clarifies State Vs. BD Development Corp
3/20/09 - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has issued an informal opinion on the State Supreme Court decision involving the Beaver Dam Area Development Corporation. The case stemmed from a local group that complained a deal was done in private to bring the Wal-Mart distribution center to town six years ago. In last July’s decision, the court ruled that economic development groups have to follow open meetings laws since they closely resemble government bodies. The argument was that the Development Corp was funded by the city and had offices in the city's municipal building. The court said that means the Development Corp is a “quasi-governmental” entity and is subject open meetings laws. But questions lingered, and Kristen Fish of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association asked the Attorney General to clarify the definition of a “quasi-governmental” entity. Van Hollen says an entity is more likely to be deemed “quasi-governmental” if it is involved in traditional governmental actions like municipal planning, regulatory powers or the exercise of eminent domain. Van Hollen says it is less likely to be considered “quasi-governmental” if it instead contracts with the municipality for the sale of professional services, like marketing, appraising or expert consulting. In addition, Van Hollen says entities that are directly funded by public capital or credit, are more likely to be held to a higher standard than those that bargain for contracts. The bottom line, Van Hollen says, is that the entity in question can minimize risk of breaking the law if they “keep in mind the general legislative purpose of promoting transparency” in government.
A copy of the opinion request is available here:
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/ag/opinions/2009_03_16Fish-Request.pdf
Attorney General Van Hollen’s informal opinion can be accessed here:
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/ag/opinions/2009_03_19Fish.pdf
Regional Census Figures Show Population Increase
3/20/09 - Wisconsin gained over a quarter-million residents in the eight years since the last Census in 2000. The U-S Census Bureau has released an estimate, saying the state’s population was just over five-point-six million as of last July first. Dodge County remains as the state’s 17th largest county in terms of population size, gaining just over 1900 residents during the eight year period to an estimated total of 87,912. Columbia County is 26th largest with 55,196 residents, an increase of over 2500 people. Jefferson County is ranked 20th in size and grew by just under 5000 people to a population of 80,792. Eleventh-ranked Washington County saw a population boom of over 11,500 residents to a total of 129,477. The biggest gainer was Saint Croix County, where the Twin Cities metro area continues to spread eastward. The county with Hudson has gained 19-thousand residents in the current decade. Dane County had the second-highest growth this decade, at 13-percent. Twenty of the 72 counties lost population.
Watertown SD Putting Referendum Money To Work
3/20/09 - The Watertown School District will soon present its budget for the building projects funded by last November’s referendum. Residents approved one of two referenda allowing for $22-million-dollars worth of renovations at the elementary buildings. Superintendent Doug Kaiser says they’ve been working with the architect and construction company and will present their budget to the school board next week. Kaiser says if everything goes to plan they hope to break ground in July with the possibility of having some of the new additions available for use in the spring of next year. The question that did not pass was for money to help staff the new buildings. Kaiser says they’ll attempt to reshuffle a few things but most likely they’ll becoming back to the public for some of the money.
Hearing Aid Law Introduced
3/20/09 - An estimated 200 children are born in Wisconsin each year with some level of hearing impairment. It can take years before the condition is fully discovered, although many of them can be helped through the use of hearing aids or cochlear implants. However, State Senator Julie Lassa says families are often in for a shock when they turn to insurance companies to help cover the average three thousand dollar of a hearing aid -- because providers aren't required to offer coverage for hearing-related devices. Lassa is co-sponsoring legislation that would require them to cover the devices and the surgery needed to install a cochlear implant, if a doctor or audiologist prescribes it for a child.
Layoffs Set Record
3/20/09 - Wisconsin companies have cut a record number of jobs over the last year. State officials say the unemployment rate for February was eight-point-eight percent – the highest for the month since 1984. The new rate is more than a full-percentage point higher than in January. And it’s almost four-percent higher than a year ago. About 89-thousand-600 jobs have been lost in the Badger State since February of 2008. That’s the most for a 12-month period since 1939, when records started being kept on that. Three-point-two percent of Wisconsin jobs were cut in the past year – the highest since December of 1982. Keith Bender of U-W Milwaukee says the new figures eliminated any hope that Wisconsin would not suffer as much from the recession as other states. And unlike past downturns, Bender says white-collar employees are being hit the hardest. Wisconsin factory jobs are down nine-percent from a year ago. Professional and business service jobs are down by almost 11-percent. Meanwhile, more companies are telling the state about upcoming layoffs. Wausau Homes of Rothschild has announced 79 permanent layoffs, and W-H Transportation of Wausau is cutting 49 workers. U-S Bank is closing its adjustments’ department in Milwaukee in late May, leaving 33 people out of work.
Jobs Cut In Manitowoc
3/20/09 - Operators of an aluminum rolling mill in Manitowoc have announced permanent elimination of 23 salaried and 63 hourly production employees beginning in May and continuing through July. Koenig & Vits’ human resources department sent notification of a "mass layoff" to the state Department of Workforce Development Tuesday. The company says no union represents the affected employees. The company says all of those employees will be paid all earned wages and benefits upon the termination of their employment.
Fitzgerald on Community Comment
3/20/09 - On Community Comment this afternoon our guest will be Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald. The Republican from Horicon will join us to answer questions from our listeners and discuss issues important to taxpayers across the state, like the budget deficit, the proposed smoking ban and stricter OWI laws. Community Comment airs weekdays on WBEV 1430AM beginning at 12:35pm.
Honor Flight Flies Again
3/19/09 - There will be several Dodge County veterans boarding the regions second “Honor Flight” next month. The program allows World War II veterans to fly – for free – to Washington DC to visit the Word War II Memorial. The April 25th excursion was open to all veterans within a 120-mile radius of Milwaukee. Dodge County Veterans Service Officer Mark Grams says the flight will include five veterans from Beaver Dam, one from Horicon, one from Waupun and one from Watertown, plus three Dodge County guardians. Grams says Panera Breads donated the money that made the April flight possible. Because of additional fundraising efforts, a third flight is scheduled for June 27. Grams says all veterans to apply and says guardians are also encouraged to submit and application. Each guardian pays a total of $500 and attends a required training session. For more information: Veterans Service Office, PO Box 994, Port Washington WI 53074-0994. Checks should be made out to “Stars and Stripes Honor Flight c/o the Flag Day Foundation. Ozaukee County CVSO Ken Brown is acting as the conduit for funds and applications. Or you can call Mark Grams at 386-3798.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Top Stories March 19th
Fox Lake Talks Consolidation
3/19/09 - Consolidation of three police departments set off a spirited discussion in Fox Lake last night. In a letter addressed to officials in the City and Town of Fox Lake, as well as the village of Randolph, Sheriff Todd Nehls suggested it would be a benefit to the taxpayer for the three municipalities’ police departments to consolidate. Speaking to the Fox Lake city council, Nehls said doing so would give the area 24/7 coverage and a lower cost to the taxpayer. However, a number of alderpersons asked Nehls for the exact cost savings and some suggested hiring an outside consultant to do the same. Before they can do that though, Alderman John Mund told the council more research would have to be done on how some other law enforcement agencies in the county handled consolidation. The item will be placed on the committee of the whole agenda for April for more discussion.
Delivery Service Worker Tip Leads to Benson Back in Jail
3/19/09 - The former surgeon charged with killing an educator and two of her kids in a drug-induced Oconomowoc traffic crash will need another 150-thousand-dollars to get out of jail. That was the bond set yesterday for Mark Benson. He was freed February 20th after posting a half-million-dollar bond. But the judge told him not to have medicines which are not prescribed by his doctor – and he wasn’t supposed to have weapons, either. On Tuesday night, police took the 56-year-old Benson back to jail after searching his home. They found numerous medicines, three rifles, three handguns, and over 20-thousand rounds of ammunition. The raid occurred because a delivery service worker in Florida who knew about the Benson case tipped police off about a drug package being sent to him. Benson was just days away from going to jail for his third drunk driving offense when he struck a car last April, allegedly under the influence of two conflicting medicines. That crash killed popular Oconomowoc educator Jennifer Bukosky, her unborn child, and her 10-year-old daughter. Now, prosecutors may ask that Benson forfeit his earlier half-million-dollar bond – or to increase the current 150-thousand-dollar bond. A court hearing on that is set for next Thursday in Waukesha.
LaFave Pleads Guilty
3/19/09 - Consolidation of three police departments set off a spirited discussion in Fox Lake last night. In a letter addressed to officials in the City and Town of Fox Lake, as well as the village of Randolph, Sheriff Todd Nehls suggested it would be a benefit to the taxpayer for the three municipalities’ police departments to consolidate. Speaking to the Fox Lake city council, Nehls said doing so would give the area 24/7 coverage and a lower cost to the taxpayer. However, a number of alderpersons asked Nehls for the exact cost savings and some suggested hiring an outside consultant to do the same. Before they can do that though, Alderman John Mund told the council more research would have to be done on how some other law enforcement agencies in the county handled consolidation. The item will be placed on the committee of the whole agenda for April for more discussion.
Delivery Service Worker Tip Leads to Benson Back in Jail
3/19/09 - The former surgeon charged with killing an educator and two of her kids in a drug-induced Oconomowoc traffic crash will need another 150-thousand-dollars to get out of jail. That was the bond set yesterday for Mark Benson. He was freed February 20th after posting a half-million-dollar bond. But the judge told him not to have medicines which are not prescribed by his doctor – and he wasn’t supposed to have weapons, either. On Tuesday night, police took the 56-year-old Benson back to jail after searching his home. They found numerous medicines, three rifles, three handguns, and over 20-thousand rounds of ammunition. The raid occurred because a delivery service worker in Florida who knew about the Benson case tipped police off about a drug package being sent to him. Benson was just days away from going to jail for his third drunk driving offense when he struck a car last April, allegedly under the influence of two conflicting medicines. That crash killed popular Oconomowoc educator Jennifer Bukosky, her unborn child, and her 10-year-old daughter. Now, prosecutors may ask that Benson forfeit his earlier half-million-dollar bond – or to increase the current 150-thousand-dollar bond. A court hearing on that is set for next Thursday in Waukesha.
LaFave Pleads Guilty
3/19/09 - The Delafield woman, who assisted in the murder of a UW-Milwaukee student near Watertown, pleaded “guilty” to a charge of felony Murder Wednesday morning in Milwaukee County court. 21-year-old Tammi LaFave was advised of her constitutional rights and maximum penalties before waving those rights.
LaFave helped her boyfriend Travis Zoellick kidnap-and-murder 31-year-old Haroon Khan last fall. The 20-year-old Zoellick killed himself at his Watertown home as law enforcement closed in. Authorities say he was so obsessed with obtaining a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution he kidnapped and killed Khan, who’s so-called “Evo” was for sale.
According to the criminal complaint, LaFave and Zoellick drove to Milwaukee with zip ties and a gun. She was in the backseat during the test drive when Zoellick pulled out the gun and pointed it at Khan. LaFave handed Zoellick the hand ties used to bind the victim and told authorities that she felt if she didn’t participate he would leave her. Zoellick drove the Mitsubishi while LaFave drove her car back to a wooded area in the Town of Emmett. LaFave was talking to her mother on her cell phone as Zoellick walked Khan into the woods to kill him, but told her mother nothing of the incident. A blood-covered Zoellick returned 20 minutes later with an 8-inch knife and insisted she view Khan’s body. Afterward, the pair drove to his mother’s house and then to Wal-Mart to go shopping. She told authorities she was scared to say anything becuase she was afraid Zoellick would break up with her. They had met only weeks earlier on the scoial networking website My Space.
LaFave could get up to 55 years in prison when she is sentenced on Monday. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Zachary Zaborek of Watertown has a two-day jury trial scheduled in August on a charge of Aiding a Felon for allegedly helping to conceal the murder.
No Leads on “Jane Doe” in FDL
3/19/09 - Nearly four months after the discovery of a young woman's body in southeastern Fond du Lac County investigators are still waiting to learn her identity. Deer hunters found the woman's body in a creek in a wooded area during the opening weekend of the gun-deer season. Sheriff's investigators have put together a profile of her general weight, height, and appearance. However Lieutenant Bill Flood says they haven't gotten any solid hits on the national crime data bases they are using to get out information about their "Jane Doe." Flood says once the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children finish the digital reconstruction of the woman's face they may learn more.
Columbus Holds City Council Debate
3/19/09 - “Can we make Columbus more business friendly?” was the question answered by all four City Council candidates at last night’s debate. 3rd District Council Member Bill Bruns called for fair and equal treatment for existing and new businesses. His opponent Ray Lawler focused on business recruitment advantages citing the City’s low crime rate. District 2 incumbent Darrell Augustine emphasized finding a solution to downtown parking problems. His opponent, Dave Bomkamp, proposed an increase in collaboration among City business leaders. Columbus “Mayoral” candidates will square off in the second Chamber of Commerce debate next Wednesday.
Parpart Ordered To Pay $45K in Restitution for OWI Injury
3/19/09 - A Horicon teen who injured a passenger in a drunk driving accident was ordered yesterday to pay $45,000 in restitution. 20-year-old Cody Parpart lost control of his vehicle on Highway 33 in August of 2007 and overturned. His blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit. One of the passengers was taken by MedFlight to UW Hospital Madison. Parpart was sentenced in January to six months of conditional jail time and placed on probation for five years.
Tiedt Gets Probation
3/19/09 - A West Bend man who injured a passenger in his vehicle while fleeing from police was sentenced yesterday to three years probation. Ryan Tiedt also had a seven year prison sentence imposed and stayed. The 25-year-old ran from authorities in December of 2007 in the Town of Hubbard. He lost control of his vehicle and rolled it on State Highway 67, just north of Highway 33. A passenger in the vehicle injured and transported b to the Beaver Dam Community Hospital. Tiedt fled the scene on foot before being apprehended a short time later. He also had his license revoked for one year.
Dodge County Gets Stimulus Funds
3/19/09 - A state panel has given final approval to 49 road-and-bridge projects to be built this year with federal economic stimulus cash. The Joint Finance Committee voted 16-to-nothing this week to free up just over 42-million dollars, including $1.7-million-dollars to complete the Dodge County Highway G project from Glen Drive to Highway 73 in the Town of Westford. Surrounding counties will also see an influx of the money. Fond du Lac will be able to reconstruct the Lake Maria Road Bridge and the Oak Grove Road Bridge in the Town of Alto, while Washington County will work on the Highway W Bridge over the East Brand of the Rock River. Construction bids will be sought this spring.
Racial Profiling to be Studied
3/19/09 - Wisconsinites might not have the right-to-know about the data police in the state’s 11 largest counties may start collecting from drivers in 2011. The governor’s proposed budget would have officers give the data to state officials, to determine if drivers are being stopped because of their race. And that data would stay secret – unlike any other information officers collect on traffic stops. The data would produce government reports which conclude whether or not racial profiling determines who gets stopped. Milwaukee Democratic legislators demanded that information before they’d support another proposal to let police stop drivers just because they’re not wearing seat belts. The so-called “primary enforcement” measure also made it into the governor’s budget.
Doyle Budget Would Increase Taxes and Fees by $1.7B
3/19/09 - Governor Jim Doyle’s proposed state budget would raise taxes-and-fees by one-point-seven billion dollars over the next two years. The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau broke down those increases in a memo released yesterday. It cited 238-million-dollars in various fee hikes, along with a billion-and-a-half in higher taxes. The bureau also said an additional 61-million would be brought in by new efforts to collect taxes-and-fees which are now on the books. The biggest increases include a 75-percent jump in the cigarette tax, higher income taxes on couples that make over 300-thousand-dollars a year, and corporate tax increases for multi-state companies based here.
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