Legislators Have Different Takes on Budget
6/28/09 - On time and balanced. That's how Democrats in the state Assembly describe the state budget bill passed Friday evening. But Republican Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald has two other words to describe the plan: jobs killer. Fitzgerald says we're not making it easy for working class families. The Republican says if the state continues on this course there will be no working families – because there will be no jobs. Fitzgerald says the increase in the capital gains tax included in the 62 billion dollar plan will hurt investors and small businesses. Madison Democrat Mark Pocan said the plan does what Democrats pledged they would do after gaining the majority in the Assembly -- deal with a record deficit, while protecting schools, public safety and health care, and shielding working families from big tax hikes.
BD Man Gets One Year in Prison
6/28/09 - A Beaver Dam man will spend one year in prison after authorities arrested him as he was reportedly looting cars in the city. Dylan Gramprie ran when authorities spotted him rifling through a parked vehicle last September. Authorities say he also dropped a pill bottle during the foot chase. He was eventually apprehended with the help of a Tazer gun but continued to kick at officers during his arrest. The 20-year-old pleaded “no contest “ to charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and had charges of theft and drug possession dismissed but read into the record. Gramprie was also sentenced to one year of extended supervision.
Mayville Business Owner Gets Jail Time for Battery
6/28/09 - A Mayville business owner will spend 120 days in jail for assaulting man who stole a bottle of vodka from his establishment. According to the criminal complaint, Thomas J. Bellino confronted the man at a Mayville tavern and convinced him to come back to his business, Spare Time Bowl. The man agreed, and the 45-year-old Bellino locked the door to his establishment when they walked inside. The man then admitted to taking the vodka, at which point Bellino knocked him off his barstool and repeatedly kicked him and punched him. Bellino was also sentenced to one year probation in connection with the misdemeanor battery conviction.
Oshkosh Museum Exhibit Has Public Enemies Theme
6/28/09 - An Oshkosh Public Museum exhibit looks at the circumstance around 1933 to 34 crime wave that inspired the film "Public Enemies." The movie stars Johnny Depp as John Dillinger as he knocks over banks throughout the Midwest. The exhibit will also take a look at the Wisconsin locations that were transformed into sets for the Depression-era gangster flick. Yesterday's grand opening featured a 1929 Packard Roadster and the Midwest Motorized Bandits performing holdups. "The Era of Public Enemies: A Wave of Crime in a Troubled Time" exhibit runs through October 18. The movie, which was filmed partially in Oshkosh, Columbus and Beaver Dam, opens nationwide on Wednesday.
BD-Natvie Rakes in $250K in Poker Tourney
6/28/09 - The final numbers are in and a Beaver Dam man has won about a quarter million dollars playing in the World Series of Poker. Eric Baldwin graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, played on the Warhawks' 2005 Division III national championship baseball team; he finished third in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas last week. The 26-year-old grew up in Beaver Dam and moved to the Las Vegas area a year ago to focus on playing poker full time. His winnings this past week were 259 thousand, 534 dollars. The overall winner pocketed more than 633 thousand dollars.
Wisconsin Air National Guard Deployment
6/28/09 - Members of the Wisconsin Air National Guard will train for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. The 27 members of the 115th Fighter Wing left for Fort Bliss, Texas, Friday. The security forces squadron will be responsible for providing base defense when they serve their six months in the Middle East. A Wisconsin National Guard officer says the team will be located in the Central Command area for those two countries.
BBB Warms of Jacko Scams
6/28/09 - The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau is warning the public to be careful when buying music, videos or memorabilia of the late Michael Jackson. The Bureau says the sudden death of the King of Pop will likely produce price gouging, faked items and additional scams as people rush to buy products associated with Jackson. If you want to buy a CD of his music, you should be patient. Many retailers will likely be sold out in the next few days because of the rush. The Bureau reminds you to get a real certificate of authenticity if you buy a piece of autographed Jackson memorabilia.
Fond du Lac Needs More Time for Storm Water Control
6/28/09 - Fond du Lac may get some additional time to get in line with storm water pollution control standards. Originally municipalities were required to reduce their storm water pollution by 40 percent by 2013. However City Manager Tom Herre says state and federal officials seem to be backing off on that original date. He says they may be given quite a bit more time (up to 10 years) to complete the necessary work. The City has budgeted $2.7 million in 2010 alone for efforts to reduce storm water pollution. It is applying for federal grant monies for the Hass Circle and Sullivan Drive retention pond projects. If approved the federal grant would pay for $700,000 of the Sullivan Drive project.
Walker at DC Dairy Brunch
6/28/09 - Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker will make several appearances in the area today. Walker is running for the Republican nod in the Governor's race next year. He will be at the Dodge County Dairy Brunch from 9am until 10:45am this morning. The brunch this year is at the Broussard Farm on Basswood Road and continues through 12:30pm this afternoon. It features scrambled eggs with cheese and ham, pancakes, assorted cheeses, milk and ice-cream Sunday’s. Before that, he'll be at the Breakfast on the Farm at the Circle H Dairy in Fond du Lac from 8 to 9am. And later in the day will be at Royal Ridges in Ripon for the "Day with Tom Petri and Friends" fundraiser. Walker will be the featured speaker at the Petri reception and brunch. It runs from 11am to 1pm.
Obey Loses Temper on Floor
6/28/09 - Wausau Congressman Dave Obey lost his temper on the House floor Thursday night and reportedly pushed a fellow Democratic lawmaker. Reporter Jared Allen with the publication The Hill says he saw Obey and California Congresswoman Maxine Waters get into a shouting match over a million-dollar earmark for a public school employment training center she wants in her home district. Allen says the veteran Wisconsin congressman denied the earmark, based a new policy change from House Democrats banning what are called "monuments to me." Allen says Waters continued to press Obey on the earmark and the conversation turned physical. Observers say it wasn’t really pushing, but the two did touch each other, then part and start shouting. The reporter notes that Obey has a reputation for being very blunt. A spokesman for Obey says the congressman tried to end the confrontation, but Waters chose to make a scene. It is unclear whether Obey or Waters will be reprimanded.
Illinois Suspect Connected Wisconsin Burglaries
6/28/09 - Illinois police say they may have cleared 20 armed robberies with the arrest of a Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, man in Waukegan. Michael Boyle and four others are suspects in the string of armed robberies that started April 25 in Antioch. Cops think Boyle was the ring leader. Investigators say their suspects used replica guns during the robberies and no one was injured. Two of those accused of being Boyle's accomplices were also from Wisconsin, including a 16 year old juvenile from Silver Lake. The others were Illinois residents.
Fight Sparks Fatal Wreck
6/28/09 - A crash investigation of the fatal accident on U.S. Highway 45 Saturday reveals it was likely caused by a verbal argument between a Milwaukee woman and her husband. The 27 year old woman lost control of her car while they argued, hitting an SUV on the left, then swerving into a motorcycle on her right. The motorcycle exploded and the driver was tossed off the bridge and onto a street below. The 54 year old Milwaukee man was declared dead at an area hospital. The freeway north of Milwaukee was shut down for several hours. The husband and wife are in jail. Charges of inattentive driving are expected. That charge could escalate since a death was the result.
Lake Michigan Diver IDed
6/28/09 - The Ozaukee County Sheriff's Department identifies the victim of a Lake Michigan diving accident as 48 year old Phil Patz of Stone Park, Illinois. Patz was diving in about 300 feet of water in the lake Thursday when he failed to come up to the surface. He was down so deep, rescue crews couldn't reach him. Four hours after the emergency call was made, his body was recovered and he was declared to be dead. The diving accident happened about nine miles southeast of Port Washington.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Top Stories June 27th
Relay for Life of Beaver Dam
6/27/09 - Twenty-seven teams are making their way around the Beaver Dam High School Track for the American Cancer Society. The Relay for Life of Beaver Dam got underway yesterday afternoon. Event co-chair Maria Rognstad says, because of the warm weather, less people turned out last night than last year. But she says everybody’s enthusiasm was high and it was an “awesome” evening. The fundraising goal for this year is $114,000, six thousand dollars more than what was raised last year.
State Budget Sent to Governor for Final Approval
6/27/09 - The long battle over the budget is complete for Wisconsin lawmakers. Now, it's up to Governor Jim Doyle to sign the 62 billion dollar spending plan. The Assembly approved the compromise version Friday night. The governor has been pressuring members of his own Democratic party to get the job done so he could make the vetoes he chooses, yet get it signed by the start of the new fiscal year Wednesday. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan says his party was able to pass a budget that protects more than 99% of all people in Wisconsin from income taxes and holds the line on property taxes among other things. Minority leader Jeff Fitzgerald countered that argument saying Democrats have put a higher priority on the state budget than the family budget. The deal covers a record 6-point-6 billion dollar shortfall, cutting most state agency spending by six percent, eliminating pay raises for state workers and including layoffs for 14 hundred state employees. About three billion dollars in federal stimulus money is being used to make ends meet.
BD Girl Among Three Teens Missing from Treatment Facility
6/27/09 - A Beaver Dam teen is among three people missing from a Washington County treatment center. That’s according to a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. They say 14-year-old Victoria Frase, 15-year-old Kyle French and 15-year-old Josh Kropp were last seen running away from the Washington County Youth Treatment Center on Tuesday. French is from Baraboo, Kropp is from Colgate, and Frase is from Beaver Dam. It is believed that the three runaways are in the Sauk or Dodge County area. Anyone having information should contact the West Bend Police Department at (262) 335-5000.
Meeker Sentenced to Prison
6/27/09 - Three years in prison for a Columbus woman who embezzled money from her employer and burned her house down to pay off debts. Krista Meeker pleaded “no contest” in February in two separate cases to charges of Theft in a Business Setting and Arson of Building. The 35-year-old Meeker worked as a bookkeeper at All-Phase Electric in Beaver Dam and wrote 17 company checks to herself totaling $83,000. Meeker told authorities she had cashed the checks and gave all the money to the owner of the company, the late Wendell Vander Galien. Meeker instead deposited most of the money into her bank account. Meeker also set an April 12th fire that destroyed her Town of Calamus home. She says a fire left burning in a kitchen is to blame but samples of wood from a cabinet in the kitchen tested positive for a fire accelerant. She wanted to collect insurance money to pay off debts. In addition to three years in prison, Meeker was ordered to serve two years of extended supervision. She must also repay the $83,000 stolen from the non-defunct All-Phase Electric and $231,000 to Sentry Insurance for the arson.
Huber to Spend Rest of Life Behind Bars
6/27/09 - A Janesville man has been sentenced to a 195-year prison sentence for a series of home invasions and rapes that terrorized Janesville residents over a 10 year period. In sentencing Michael Huber, Judge James Daley said he believed Huber carefully planned and executed all of his crimes. Many of the victims spoke prior to the sentencing. Huber was called an "animal,” among other things. Huber appeared remorseful as he apologized to the victims, family and friends, and all of Janesville. He will spend the rest of his life at the Dodge County correctional center.
AG Joins Others in Objecting to GM Bankruptcy
6/27/09 - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen joins 41 other states in objecting to the bankruptcy plans for General Motors. A federal judge in New York will hold a hearing next Tuesday to rule on the objections. Van Hollen's office says the giant automaker notified its dealers they have to sign new agreements as a part of the bankruptcy. The objecting states say those agreement force the dealers to waive protection rights under state laws. If the dealers refuse to sign, they could be forced out of business. General Motors says it will comply with the judge's decision.
Voting Changes on the Horizon
6/27/09 - Casting a ballot in Wisconsin could take on a brand new look if changes are made. The Government Accountability Board is considering online voting, early voting changes and moving the deadline for absentee voting to the week before an election. Online voter registration is also on the table. The changes could cost up to 20 million dollars over the next five years. Most of that money would come from Washington. The board is trying to streamline the election process while staying in compliance with federal regulations. The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee would have to okay the changes before application for federal help could be made.
Plug and Go in Madison
6/27/09 - Drivers of plug-in electric vehicles will soon be able to charge up on the streets of Wisconsin's capital city. Madison Gas and Electric is the first utility in the nation to make electric vehicle charging stations publicly available. Six stations will be installed around the city, according to MG&E's Steve Krause. It’s a demonstration project and for now, and electric vehicle drivers won't be charged. MG&E's Don Peterson said the utility sees this as a business opportunity eventually, so the company will be collecting data.
Putt Putt Art in Beaver Dam Tomorrow
6/27/09 - The Beaver Dam Area Arts Association is hosting a new and unique event this weekend. Executive Director Karla Jensen says the Putt-Putt Art fundraiser is being tied into to their newest opening, the Native American Art Exhibit. Jensen says they had nine holes of custom miniature golf commissioned from families across the area, handymen, Boy Scouts and 4-H members. Jensen says the art demonstrations and projects on each hole will reflect the Native American theme. The cost for a round of Putt-Putt Art golf is $5 per person or $15 per family, but since Fathers Day is in June, dads will golf for free.
6/27/09 - Twenty-seven teams are making their way around the Beaver Dam High School Track for the American Cancer Society. The Relay for Life of Beaver Dam got underway yesterday afternoon. Event co-chair Maria Rognstad says, because of the warm weather, less people turned out last night than last year. But she says everybody’s enthusiasm was high and it was an “awesome” evening. The fundraising goal for this year is $114,000, six thousand dollars more than what was raised last year.
State Budget Sent to Governor for Final Approval
6/27/09 - The long battle over the budget is complete for Wisconsin lawmakers. Now, it's up to Governor Jim Doyle to sign the 62 billion dollar spending plan. The Assembly approved the compromise version Friday night. The governor has been pressuring members of his own Democratic party to get the job done so he could make the vetoes he chooses, yet get it signed by the start of the new fiscal year Wednesday. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan says his party was able to pass a budget that protects more than 99% of all people in Wisconsin from income taxes and holds the line on property taxes among other things. Minority leader Jeff Fitzgerald countered that argument saying Democrats have put a higher priority on the state budget than the family budget. The deal covers a record 6-point-6 billion dollar shortfall, cutting most state agency spending by six percent, eliminating pay raises for state workers and including layoffs for 14 hundred state employees. About three billion dollars in federal stimulus money is being used to make ends meet.
BD Girl Among Three Teens Missing from Treatment Facility
6/27/09 - A Beaver Dam teen is among three people missing from a Washington County treatment center. That’s according to a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. They say 14-year-old Victoria Frase, 15-year-old Kyle French and 15-year-old Josh Kropp were last seen running away from the Washington County Youth Treatment Center on Tuesday. French is from Baraboo, Kropp is from Colgate, and Frase is from Beaver Dam. It is believed that the three runaways are in the Sauk or Dodge County area. Anyone having information should contact the West Bend Police Department at (262) 335-5000.
Meeker Sentenced to Prison
6/27/09 - Three years in prison for a Columbus woman who embezzled money from her employer and burned her house down to pay off debts. Krista Meeker pleaded “no contest” in February in two separate cases to charges of Theft in a Business Setting and Arson of Building. The 35-year-old Meeker worked as a bookkeeper at All-Phase Electric in Beaver Dam and wrote 17 company checks to herself totaling $83,000. Meeker told authorities she had cashed the checks and gave all the money to the owner of the company, the late Wendell Vander Galien. Meeker instead deposited most of the money into her bank account. Meeker also set an April 12th fire that destroyed her Town of Calamus home. She says a fire left burning in a kitchen is to blame but samples of wood from a cabinet in the kitchen tested positive for a fire accelerant. She wanted to collect insurance money to pay off debts. In addition to three years in prison, Meeker was ordered to serve two years of extended supervision. She must also repay the $83,000 stolen from the non-defunct All-Phase Electric and $231,000 to Sentry Insurance for the arson.
Huber to Spend Rest of Life Behind Bars
6/27/09 - A Janesville man has been sentenced to a 195-year prison sentence for a series of home invasions and rapes that terrorized Janesville residents over a 10 year period. In sentencing Michael Huber, Judge James Daley said he believed Huber carefully planned and executed all of his crimes. Many of the victims spoke prior to the sentencing. Huber was called an "animal,” among other things. Huber appeared remorseful as he apologized to the victims, family and friends, and all of Janesville. He will spend the rest of his life at the Dodge County correctional center.
AG Joins Others in Objecting to GM Bankruptcy
6/27/09 - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen joins 41 other states in objecting to the bankruptcy plans for General Motors. A federal judge in New York will hold a hearing next Tuesday to rule on the objections. Van Hollen's office says the giant automaker notified its dealers they have to sign new agreements as a part of the bankruptcy. The objecting states say those agreement force the dealers to waive protection rights under state laws. If the dealers refuse to sign, they could be forced out of business. General Motors says it will comply with the judge's decision.
Voting Changes on the Horizon
6/27/09 - Casting a ballot in Wisconsin could take on a brand new look if changes are made. The Government Accountability Board is considering online voting, early voting changes and moving the deadline for absentee voting to the week before an election. Online voter registration is also on the table. The changes could cost up to 20 million dollars over the next five years. Most of that money would come from Washington. The board is trying to streamline the election process while staying in compliance with federal regulations. The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee would have to okay the changes before application for federal help could be made.
Plug and Go in Madison
6/27/09 - Drivers of plug-in electric vehicles will soon be able to charge up on the streets of Wisconsin's capital city. Madison Gas and Electric is the first utility in the nation to make electric vehicle charging stations publicly available. Six stations will be installed around the city, according to MG&E's Steve Krause. It’s a demonstration project and for now, and electric vehicle drivers won't be charged. MG&E's Don Peterson said the utility sees this as a business opportunity eventually, so the company will be collecting data.
Putt Putt Art in Beaver Dam Tomorrow
6/27/09 - The Beaver Dam Area Arts Association is hosting a new and unique event this weekend. Executive Director Karla Jensen says the Putt-Putt Art fundraiser is being tied into to their newest opening, the Native American Art Exhibit. Jensen says they had nine holes of custom miniature golf commissioned from families across the area, handymen, Boy Scouts and 4-H members. Jensen says the art demonstrations and projects on each hole will reflect the Native American theme. The cost for a round of Putt-Putt Art golf is $5 per person or $15 per family, but since Fathers Day is in June, dads will golf for free.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Top Stories June 24th
Heat Suffocates the Midwest
6/24/09 – It’ll be another hot one today though not as warm as yesterday, when the mercury hit 90 in Juneau, 92 in West Bend, and 93 in Fond du Lac. A heat advisory will be in effect for about the southeast-third of Wisconsin from noon until seven o’clock. Temperatures in the low-90’s are forecasted. The National Weather Service is also investigating a possible tornado touchdown about five miles southeast of Edgerton in Rock County. A pilot saw it around eight last night.
The recent heat is causing some roadways in Dodge County to buckle. Local authorities and county road crews had their hands full yesterday patching blow-outs on Highway 151 near Highways C and M. Traffic in the area was slow going for about 3 hours during the afternoon commute. Crews also scrambled to make repairs on the Interstate near Portage, Poynette, and Hudson. Assistant Highway Commissioner Pete Thompson says in extreme heat everything expands, including pavement, though the heat affects concrete more than asphalt because asphalt is more flexible. Blow-outs typically occur at the shoulder, the joints between sections of roadway or at the bottom of a hill, and with the pavement having nowhere to go but up, it will buckle by breaking up the joint and popping out the chunks.
Meanwhile, local emergency responders are urging the public to stay hydrated in this hot weather. Beaver Dam Fire Captain Matt Christian says – especially if you’re going to be outside – you should drink plenty of fluids. He says water is good, but a drink with electrolytes is even better because it replaces the salt that is lost when you sweat. Christian also urges the public to check in on older neighbors.
Supreme Court Upholds Identity Theft Charge in Baron Case
6/24/09 - The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a decision Tuesday that allows the Jefferson County District Attorney to proceed with identity theft charges against Christopher Baron. The 33-year-old Baron is a former Jefferson County E-M-T who is accused of sending e-mails in his boss’s name about an affair the boss supposedly had. The e-mails were sent to fellow E-M-S workers and Mark Fisher’s wife, saying he was using an apartment owned by the fire department to conduct the affair. Baron told authorities he had the right to spread what he called true information – and he wanted people to know about the affair because Fisher was not a quote, “golden boy.” Fisher committed suicide the day after Baron allegedly used the e-mail account to send those messages. Baron was later charged with six crimes, including identity theft, obstructing an officer, and computer crimes. But a Jefferson County judge dropped the identity theft charge, saying it didn’t apply in Baron’s case because Fisher was a public official. But the Fourth District Appeals Court said it was a still a crime for Baron to claim he was somebody else, public or not. The state’s high court yesterday affirmed the decision by the Court of Appeals. The rest of the case is still pending.
Homicide Under Investigation in Pardeeville
6/24/09 - Columbia County authorities are investigating a homicide. Sheriff Dennis Richards says the victim has been identified as 43-year-old Thomas G. Kratz of Montello. 46-year-old James J. Henke of Pardeeville is being held in the Columbia County Jail on two traffic warrants. Further criminal charges are being considered by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office. Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant yesterday (Tue) at 128 North Main Street in Pardeeville and recovered a knife on the roof of the apartment building. Further testing will be conducted to determine if it the same weapon used in the homicide. Authorities were called to North Main Street around 2am yesterday morning following reports of a man that had been injured in a fight. The case remains under investigation.
1901 Brewers Honored with Monument
6/24/09 - The 1901 Milwaukee Brewers, which included three local players, were honored with a monument at Miller Park yesterday afternoon. Davy Jones of Cambria, Pink Hawley of Beaver Dam and Pete Husting of Mayville were a part of the team that was a charter member of the American League. The Brewers left Milwaukee after 1901, moving to St. Louis for 52 years before later becoming the Baltimore Orioles. A baseball historian from Watertown, David Stalker, approached the Brewers about the possibility of a monument saying it was a way to commemorate one of the original American League teams as well as a way to showcase Milwaukee's history in baseball.
6/24/09 – It’ll be another hot one today though not as warm as yesterday, when the mercury hit 90 in Juneau, 92 in West Bend, and 93 in Fond du Lac. A heat advisory will be in effect for about the southeast-third of Wisconsin from noon until seven o’clock. Temperatures in the low-90’s are forecasted. The National Weather Service is also investigating a possible tornado touchdown about five miles southeast of Edgerton in Rock County. A pilot saw it around eight last night.The recent heat is causing some roadways in Dodge County to buckle. Local authorities and county road crews had their hands full yesterday patching blow-outs on Highway 151 near Highways C and M. Traffic in the area was slow going for about 3 hours during the afternoon commute. Crews also scrambled to make repairs on the Interstate near Portage, Poynette, and Hudson. Assistant Highway Commissioner Pete Thompson says in extreme heat everything expands, including pavement, though the heat affects concrete more than asphalt because asphalt is more flexible. Blow-outs typically occur at the shoulder, the joints between sections of roadway or at the bottom of a hill, and with the pavement having nowhere to go but up, it will buckle by breaking up the joint and popping out the chunks.
Meanwhile, local emergency responders are urging the public to stay hydrated in this hot weather. Beaver Dam Fire Captain Matt Christian says – especially if you’re going to be outside – you should drink plenty of fluids. He says water is good, but a drink with electrolytes is even better because it replaces the salt that is lost when you sweat. Christian also urges the public to check in on older neighbors.
Supreme Court Upholds Identity Theft Charge in Baron Case
6/24/09 - The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a decision Tuesday that allows the Jefferson County District Attorney to proceed with identity theft charges against Christopher Baron. The 33-year-old Baron is a former Jefferson County E-M-T who is accused of sending e-mails in his boss’s name about an affair the boss supposedly had. The e-mails were sent to fellow E-M-S workers and Mark Fisher’s wife, saying he was using an apartment owned by the fire department to conduct the affair. Baron told authorities he had the right to spread what he called true information – and he wanted people to know about the affair because Fisher was not a quote, “golden boy.” Fisher committed suicide the day after Baron allegedly used the e-mail account to send those messages. Baron was later charged with six crimes, including identity theft, obstructing an officer, and computer crimes. But a Jefferson County judge dropped the identity theft charge, saying it didn’t apply in Baron’s case because Fisher was a public official. But the Fourth District Appeals Court said it was a still a crime for Baron to claim he was somebody else, public or not. The state’s high court yesterday affirmed the decision by the Court of Appeals. The rest of the case is still pending.
Homicide Under Investigation in Pardeeville
6/24/09 - Columbia County authorities are investigating a homicide. Sheriff Dennis Richards says the victim has been identified as 43-year-old Thomas G. Kratz of Montello. 46-year-old James J. Henke of Pardeeville is being held in the Columbia County Jail on two traffic warrants. Further criminal charges are being considered by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office. Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant yesterday (Tue) at 128 North Main Street in Pardeeville and recovered a knife on the roof of the apartment building. Further testing will be conducted to determine if it the same weapon used in the homicide. Authorities were called to North Main Street around 2am yesterday morning following reports of a man that had been injured in a fight. The case remains under investigation.
1901 Brewers Honored with Monument
6/24/09 - The 1901 Milwaukee Brewers, which included three local players, were honored with a monument at Miller Park yesterday afternoon. Davy Jones of Cambria, Pink Hawley of Beaver Dam and Pete Husting of Mayville were a part of the team that was a charter member of the American League. The Brewers left Milwaukee after 1901, moving to St. Louis for 52 years before later becoming the Baltimore Orioles. A baseball historian from Watertown, David Stalker, approached the Brewers about the possibility of a monument saying it was a way to commemorate one of the original American League teams as well as a way to showcase Milwaukee's history in baseball.“We’ll Never Forget You Brent”
Well now you can express the way you feel about Brett Favre through a t-shirt. The Madison based clothing store, Sconnie Nation is selling a t-shirt that has an outline of the state of Wisconsin, with a picture of Favre and the caption, “We’ll never forget you Brent”. The store has apparently already sold a couple hundred of the t-shirts. The longtime Packers quarterback is expected to come out of retirement for the 2nd time and play for the rival Minnesota Vikings during the 2009 season.Two Escape Injury in Plane Crash
Two people escaped injury when their plane crash-landed about a mile west of the airport in Lodi. Columbia County sheriff’s officials were first told that a prop-plane needed to make an emergency landing at the airport, and rescuers should be sent there. A few minutes later, deputies were told the plane crashed before it got to the airport. It happened around 7:30pm Monday night. Authorities are investigating.
Columbus Looking into Adding Group to Investment Board
The City of Columbus is considering adding some help to their “Investment Board.”
The Council heard last night from the President of Community Investment Partners. Kenneth Herdeman told the council that his firm was NOT in competition with local banks in providing investment services. Unlike the current Board, banks or stock brokers Investment Partners specializes in working with a select list of government approved investments. Most Council members favored a yes vote when the resolution to engage the management firm comes before the Council next Tuesday.
Bankers Expect Fewer Home-Owners to Refinance in the 2nd Half of the Year
Fewer Wisconsin home-owners will refinance their mortgages in the second half of the year. That’s according to a survey by the Wisconsin Bankers Association. Twenty-three of the 129 bank officials surveyed expected the demand for home loans to grow from July through December. Sixty-six percent expected long-term rates to go up in the next six months. And the bankers expected business and commercial real estate loans to remain flat. Kurt Bauer, the head of the bankers’ group, says every indication in the survey showed that the recession and growing unemployment is hurting the financial condition of state families and companies. The bankers said they blamed lower cash flows, reduced capital, and poor earnings as reasons for turning down credit requests so far this year. They expected real estate and housing to lead the way in a recovery, with consumer spending right behind.
Law Enforcement Looking to Crack Down on Drunk Boaters this Weekend
Authorities in Wisconsin will keep a closer eye out for drunk boaters this weekend. The D-N-R has a campaign called “Operation Dry-Water.” It’s part of a national effort to enforce laws against boaters who are under the influence. State wardens and local patrol officers will look for operators who exceed the blood alcohol limit of point-zero-eight. Fines and jail time could result – along with impounding the offenders’ boats. Todd Schaller of the D-N-R says alcohol makes boaters more impaired, fatigued, and susceptible to the problems that involve cold water.
Legislature to Hold Special Session on Hospital Tax
Governor Jim Doyle has called a special legislative session for today, so the state can expand the new hospital tax to get more federal Medicaid money. The proposed state budget would expand the tax to ambulatory surgery centers. Doyle says it would give the state an extra 110-million dollars in Medicaid funds – but only if the tax expansion is signed into law by next Monday. The budget is not expected to be approved by then, so Doyle wants a separate bill to pass the hospital tax expansion. The governor has urged legislative leaders to pass a budget in the next few days, saying there’s a July first deadline to assure several types of new federal aid. But the Assembly and Senate still disagree on major portions of the budget, so Doyle says he’ll try to get the most urgent parts approved as separate bills.
Two people escaped injury when their plane crash-landed about a mile west of the airport in Lodi. Columbia County sheriff’s officials were first told that a prop-plane needed to make an emergency landing at the airport, and rescuers should be sent there. A few minutes later, deputies were told the plane crashed before it got to the airport. It happened around 7:30pm Monday night. Authorities are investigating.
Columbus Looking into Adding Group to Investment Board
The City of Columbus is considering adding some help to their “Investment Board.”
The Council heard last night from the President of Community Investment Partners. Kenneth Herdeman told the council that his firm was NOT in competition with local banks in providing investment services. Unlike the current Board, banks or stock brokers Investment Partners specializes in working with a select list of government approved investments. Most Council members favored a yes vote when the resolution to engage the management firm comes before the Council next Tuesday.
Bankers Expect Fewer Home-Owners to Refinance in the 2nd Half of the Year
Fewer Wisconsin home-owners will refinance their mortgages in the second half of the year. That’s according to a survey by the Wisconsin Bankers Association. Twenty-three of the 129 bank officials surveyed expected the demand for home loans to grow from July through December. Sixty-six percent expected long-term rates to go up in the next six months. And the bankers expected business and commercial real estate loans to remain flat. Kurt Bauer, the head of the bankers’ group, says every indication in the survey showed that the recession and growing unemployment is hurting the financial condition of state families and companies. The bankers said they blamed lower cash flows, reduced capital, and poor earnings as reasons for turning down credit requests so far this year. They expected real estate and housing to lead the way in a recovery, with consumer spending right behind.
Law Enforcement Looking to Crack Down on Drunk Boaters this Weekend
Authorities in Wisconsin will keep a closer eye out for drunk boaters this weekend. The D-N-R has a campaign called “Operation Dry-Water.” It’s part of a national effort to enforce laws against boaters who are under the influence. State wardens and local patrol officers will look for operators who exceed the blood alcohol limit of point-zero-eight. Fines and jail time could result – along with impounding the offenders’ boats. Todd Schaller of the D-N-R says alcohol makes boaters more impaired, fatigued, and susceptible to the problems that involve cold water.
Legislature to Hold Special Session on Hospital Tax
Governor Jim Doyle has called a special legislative session for today, so the state can expand the new hospital tax to get more federal Medicaid money. The proposed state budget would expand the tax to ambulatory surgery centers. Doyle says it would give the state an extra 110-million dollars in Medicaid funds – but only if the tax expansion is signed into law by next Monday. The budget is not expected to be approved by then, so Doyle wants a separate bill to pass the hospital tax expansion. The governor has urged legislative leaders to pass a budget in the next few days, saying there’s a July first deadline to assure several types of new federal aid. But the Assembly and Senate still disagree on major portions of the budget, so Doyle says he’ll try to get the most urgent parts approved as separate bills.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Top Stories June 23rd
Celestial Building Almost Gone
6/23/09 - The Celestial Building in downtown Beaver Dam has been reduced to a pile of rubble. Demolition efforts are continuing today as part of the city’s efforts to remove ten century-old buildings that were constructed over the Beaver Dam River in violation of modern state statutes. Nine other buildings have already been taken down. The Celestial Building has not been completely removed as extra precautions are being taken to maintain the walls adjacent to the Fountain Inn Tavern and Expedition Supply, two businesses that will not be razed. It will be the end of the month before all the rubble is removed.
Heat Advisory in Effect Starting at Noon
6/23/09 - This could be one of the hottest days of the year in Wisconsin. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from noon-to-seven for the southern part of the state away from Lake Michigan – where the heat index might reach 105 this afternoon and evening. High temperatures will be in the 90’s almost everywhere in the Badger State, except near Lakes Michigan and Superior where the 80’s are predicted. The heat advisory urges people to drink lots of fluids, stay out of the sun, find air conditioning if possible, and check up on neighbors and relatives. State health officials urge people to avoid strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day, to avoid things like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. The state D-N-R has issued an air quality watch through midnight for 16 counties in southeast Wisconsin where high ozone levels could pose health concerns. Tonight, a cold front will move in from the west, bringing a chance of rain. High pressure will move in after that, with slightly cooler weather expected for the rest of the week.
Another B&E in Dodge County
6/23/09 - Authorities are investigating another breaking and entering, this one on South Street in Clyman. The Sheriff’s Department says an owner reported that when he returned to his residence around 11 p.m. last night a subject came running out of the home. A TV was knocked over and smashed on the floor. Investigators were able to take three fingerprints from the scene that may have belonged to the intruder. The incident is the second breaking and entering reported over the past three days with other coming on Highway T-W in the Town of Williamstown.
Parking on Front Street Part of Highway 33 Plan
6/23/09 - The Beaver Dam Operations Committee is recommending the DOT continue to allow parking on both sides of Front Street. Mayor Tom Kennedy and other city officials met with the Department of Transportation last week and were presented with two options for the reconstruction of the 100 block of Front Street. The option that is being recommended would shorten the sidewalks and add a pedestrian island in the middle of Front Street. The other option would still allow for four-lanes of traffic but would eliminate parking on one-side of Front Street. Committee members were in agreement with Kennedy that reducing parking would have a detrimental effect on downtown businesses. The vote was unanimous in committee, though the recommendation is not set in stone as the project is in the very preliminary stages; there hasn’t even been public hearings yet. Kennedy also told the committee last night the project has been moved from 2012 to 2013. The plan also includes complete reconstruction of Highway 33 from University Avenue to Monroe Street. Around 80% of the project would be covered by state and federal dollars. Kennedy says he would also like to see the 200 block of Front Street reconstructed at the same time at city expense.
Andy’s Roofing Owner Gets 5 Years in Prison
6/23/09 - Five years in prison for the owner of Andy’s Roofing. Robert Linendoll pleaded no contest in April to twelve felony counts of Theft In A Business Setting and Theft By Contractor. The 48-year-old failed to make good on contracts with dozens of clients, including Wayland Academy and the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Randolph, over a two-year period beginning in September of 2006. At sentencing yesterday, Linendoll was also ordered to serve five years of extended supervision followed by five years of probation. A restitution hearing will be held in August.
Phylox Man Accused of Pre-K Molestation
6/23/09 - A 25-year-old man from Phylox, Wisconsin faces 60 years in prison for sexually assaulting a pre-school age girl at a Beaver Dam residence. Arnold Arrowood was arrested last November, one year after the child recounted the incidents to her mother. Beaver Dam Police were able to place him in the city at the time of the molestation because they had arrested him around that time on vandalism charges. Arrowood had a signature bond set yesterday at $1000 and he’ll be back in court August 6.
Cotton Charged With BD Burglary
6/23/09 - A Beaver Dam man faces over 13 years in prison for a recent burglary. Travis Cotton is accused throwing a large rock through a patio window at a residence on the 1000 block of Lakeshore Drive in March. According to the criminal complaint, the 21-year-old admitted to the break-in and said he wanted to steal their TV but he was scared off by their security alarm. When authorities executed a search warrant at his residence, they found a variety of stolen electronics equipment. Cotton denied stealing any of the items and told investigators that he paid cash from people who may have stolen them. He also denied any connection to a series of home break-ins that same night. Cotton will be back in court to answer to the Lakeshore Drive burglary on August 6. Signature bond was set at $1000.
No Action Expected on Budget Today
6/23/09 - No legislative action is planned today on the proposed state budget – and that’s got Governor Jim Doyle concerned. The governor says he must sign certain parts of the budget by July first to make sure Wisconsin gets all the federal stimulus money it’s counting on – and to make sure the proposed state spending cuts get administered properly. Both houses are far apart a number of budget issues, like how to pay for new-and-improved roads. The Senate is not scheduled to be in session today, but the Assembly is. If lawmakers don’t do something soon, the Democratic governor says separate bills will need to be passed to make sure the most important actions get in place by July first – which is a week from tomorrow. The state would get an extra 15-million dollars in federal highway funds if Doyle signs a budget measure by next Wednesday to let police stop drivers just for not wearing their seat belts. It’s in the Assembly’s version of the budget – but the Senate only agreed to support it if Doyle could approve it on time to get the extra money.
Whitetails Unlimited Asking Legislature to Toughen Animal Cruelty Laws
6/23/09 - A conservation group wants the Legislature to toughen the state’s animal cruelty laws. Whitetails Unlimited said it was wrong for a judge to dismiss felony cruelty charges against a Waupaca County man accused of running down deer with his snowmobile in January. Circuit Judge John Hoffman ruled this month that the animal charges did not apply to 23-year-old Robby Kuenzi of Weyauwega. His lawyer convinced the judge that Kuenzi was actually hunting at the time. His 24-year-old brother Rory will try to get his charges dropped tomorrow, when he appears in court before another Waupaca judge, Philip Kirk. A third defendant is expected to make the same request to a third judge next month. Prosecutors have appealed the dismissals of Robby’s charges. Jeff Schinkten, the president of Whitetails Unlimited, says it quote “defies reason” for a judge to equate legal hunting with running down multiple deer with a pack of snowmobiles. And if the dismissals stand, Schinkten says the law should be changed so quote, “future criminals can’t hide behind ethical hunters.”
“Modes of Transportation” a Big Hit
6/23/09 - The first annual “Modes of Transportation” Day put on by the YMCA of Dodge County was a huge success. That’s according to organizer Mary Vogl-Rauscher, who says the turnout for the event was very good. The day featured every mode of transportation imaginable, including helicopters, hot air balloons, the Oscar Meier Weiner-Mobile, fire trucks, ambulances and even golf carts. Even the Wisconsin Dells Duck Boats were in attendance. Vogl-Rauscher says another big part of the event was the triathlon, which kicked off the festivities Saturday morning with a serpentine swim, seven-mile bike ride and one-mile run. The event was in honor of two long-time YMCA members: Bill Hollihan and David Brandenburg. Vogl-Rauscher says they hope to make next year even more special. All of the funds raised during the event will go to the YMCA of Dodge County.
Meeting in Waupun Tonight to Discuss Power Plant
6/23/09 - The power plant that supplies the heat, electricity and emergency power at Waupun and Dodge Correctional Institutions is the subject of a town hall meeting at the Waupun Utilities office tonight. Dave Helbach of the Division of State Facilities says a preliminary draft report of a feasibility study that evaluated energy generation at the power plant is one of the topics that will be discussed during the meeting, which will start at 6 p.m. The power plant was built in 1949 with a natural gas boiler added in 1970. (KFIZ)
GKB Mourning Loss of Family Member
6/23/09 - The wife of long time WBEV/WXRO radio announcer Bill McCollum passed away yesterday. Sharon “Liz” McCollum, age 65, of Beaver Dam died yesterday at their home surrounded by family after a battle with cancer. Liz and Bill were married in 1982. She was a 1961 graduate of Kaukauna High School. She was the business manager for Dr. Schuler for many years and owned and operated Maid in Beaver Dam cleaning service. She later became a real estate agent and worked for Stan’s Realty. A memorial gathering will be held at Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
6/23/09 - The Celestial Building in downtown Beaver Dam has been reduced to a pile of rubble. Demolition efforts are continuing today as part of the city’s efforts to remove ten century-old buildings that were constructed over the Beaver Dam River in violation of modern state statutes. Nine other buildings have already been taken down. The Celestial Building has not been completely removed as extra precautions are being taken to maintain the walls adjacent to the Fountain Inn Tavern and Expedition Supply, two businesses that will not be razed. It will be the end of the month before all the rubble is removed.
Heat Advisory in Effect Starting at Noon
6/23/09 - This could be one of the hottest days of the year in Wisconsin. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from noon-to-seven for the southern part of the state away from Lake Michigan – where the heat index might reach 105 this afternoon and evening. High temperatures will be in the 90’s almost everywhere in the Badger State, except near Lakes Michigan and Superior where the 80’s are predicted. The heat advisory urges people to drink lots of fluids, stay out of the sun, find air conditioning if possible, and check up on neighbors and relatives. State health officials urge people to avoid strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day, to avoid things like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. The state D-N-R has issued an air quality watch through midnight for 16 counties in southeast Wisconsin where high ozone levels could pose health concerns. Tonight, a cold front will move in from the west, bringing a chance of rain. High pressure will move in after that, with slightly cooler weather expected for the rest of the week.
Another B&E in Dodge County
6/23/09 - Authorities are investigating another breaking and entering, this one on South Street in Clyman. The Sheriff’s Department says an owner reported that when he returned to his residence around 11 p.m. last night a subject came running out of the home. A TV was knocked over and smashed on the floor. Investigators were able to take three fingerprints from the scene that may have belonged to the intruder. The incident is the second breaking and entering reported over the past three days with other coming on Highway T-W in the Town of Williamstown.
Parking on Front Street Part of Highway 33 Plan
6/23/09 - The Beaver Dam Operations Committee is recommending the DOT continue to allow parking on both sides of Front Street. Mayor Tom Kennedy and other city officials met with the Department of Transportation last week and were presented with two options for the reconstruction of the 100 block of Front Street. The option that is being recommended would shorten the sidewalks and add a pedestrian island in the middle of Front Street. The other option would still allow for four-lanes of traffic but would eliminate parking on one-side of Front Street. Committee members were in agreement with Kennedy that reducing parking would have a detrimental effect on downtown businesses. The vote was unanimous in committee, though the recommendation is not set in stone as the project is in the very preliminary stages; there hasn’t even been public hearings yet. Kennedy also told the committee last night the project has been moved from 2012 to 2013. The plan also includes complete reconstruction of Highway 33 from University Avenue to Monroe Street. Around 80% of the project would be covered by state and federal dollars. Kennedy says he would also like to see the 200 block of Front Street reconstructed at the same time at city expense.
Andy’s Roofing Owner Gets 5 Years in Prison
6/23/09 - Five years in prison for the owner of Andy’s Roofing. Robert Linendoll pleaded no contest in April to twelve felony counts of Theft In A Business Setting and Theft By Contractor. The 48-year-old failed to make good on contracts with dozens of clients, including Wayland Academy and the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Randolph, over a two-year period beginning in September of 2006. At sentencing yesterday, Linendoll was also ordered to serve five years of extended supervision followed by five years of probation. A restitution hearing will be held in August.
Phylox Man Accused of Pre-K Molestation
6/23/09 - A 25-year-old man from Phylox, Wisconsin faces 60 years in prison for sexually assaulting a pre-school age girl at a Beaver Dam residence. Arnold Arrowood was arrested last November, one year after the child recounted the incidents to her mother. Beaver Dam Police were able to place him in the city at the time of the molestation because they had arrested him around that time on vandalism charges. Arrowood had a signature bond set yesterday at $1000 and he’ll be back in court August 6.
Cotton Charged With BD Burglary
6/23/09 - A Beaver Dam man faces over 13 years in prison for a recent burglary. Travis Cotton is accused throwing a large rock through a patio window at a residence on the 1000 block of Lakeshore Drive in March. According to the criminal complaint, the 21-year-old admitted to the break-in and said he wanted to steal their TV but he was scared off by their security alarm. When authorities executed a search warrant at his residence, they found a variety of stolen electronics equipment. Cotton denied stealing any of the items and told investigators that he paid cash from people who may have stolen them. He also denied any connection to a series of home break-ins that same night. Cotton will be back in court to answer to the Lakeshore Drive burglary on August 6. Signature bond was set at $1000.
No Action Expected on Budget Today
6/23/09 - No legislative action is planned today on the proposed state budget – and that’s got Governor Jim Doyle concerned. The governor says he must sign certain parts of the budget by July first to make sure Wisconsin gets all the federal stimulus money it’s counting on – and to make sure the proposed state spending cuts get administered properly. Both houses are far apart a number of budget issues, like how to pay for new-and-improved roads. The Senate is not scheduled to be in session today, but the Assembly is. If lawmakers don’t do something soon, the Democratic governor says separate bills will need to be passed to make sure the most important actions get in place by July first – which is a week from tomorrow. The state would get an extra 15-million dollars in federal highway funds if Doyle signs a budget measure by next Wednesday to let police stop drivers just for not wearing their seat belts. It’s in the Assembly’s version of the budget – but the Senate only agreed to support it if Doyle could approve it on time to get the extra money.
Whitetails Unlimited Asking Legislature to Toughen Animal Cruelty Laws
6/23/09 - A conservation group wants the Legislature to toughen the state’s animal cruelty laws. Whitetails Unlimited said it was wrong for a judge to dismiss felony cruelty charges against a Waupaca County man accused of running down deer with his snowmobile in January. Circuit Judge John Hoffman ruled this month that the animal charges did not apply to 23-year-old Robby Kuenzi of Weyauwega. His lawyer convinced the judge that Kuenzi was actually hunting at the time. His 24-year-old brother Rory will try to get his charges dropped tomorrow, when he appears in court before another Waupaca judge, Philip Kirk. A third defendant is expected to make the same request to a third judge next month. Prosecutors have appealed the dismissals of Robby’s charges. Jeff Schinkten, the president of Whitetails Unlimited, says it quote “defies reason” for a judge to equate legal hunting with running down multiple deer with a pack of snowmobiles. And if the dismissals stand, Schinkten says the law should be changed so quote, “future criminals can’t hide behind ethical hunters.”
“Modes of Transportation” a Big Hit
6/23/09 - The first annual “Modes of Transportation” Day put on by the YMCA of Dodge County was a huge success. That’s according to organizer Mary Vogl-Rauscher, who says the turnout for the event was very good. The day featured every mode of transportation imaginable, including helicopters, hot air balloons, the Oscar Meier Weiner-Mobile, fire trucks, ambulances and even golf carts. Even the Wisconsin Dells Duck Boats were in attendance. Vogl-Rauscher says another big part of the event was the triathlon, which kicked off the festivities Saturday morning with a serpentine swim, seven-mile bike ride and one-mile run. The event was in honor of two long-time YMCA members: Bill Hollihan and David Brandenburg. Vogl-Rauscher says they hope to make next year even more special. All of the funds raised during the event will go to the YMCA of Dodge County.
Meeting in Waupun Tonight to Discuss Power Plant
6/23/09 - The power plant that supplies the heat, electricity and emergency power at Waupun and Dodge Correctional Institutions is the subject of a town hall meeting at the Waupun Utilities office tonight. Dave Helbach of the Division of State Facilities says a preliminary draft report of a feasibility study that evaluated energy generation at the power plant is one of the topics that will be discussed during the meeting, which will start at 6 p.m. The power plant was built in 1949 with a natural gas boiler added in 1970. (KFIZ)
GKB Mourning Loss of Family Member
6/23/09 - The wife of long time WBEV/WXRO radio announcer Bill McCollum passed away yesterday. Sharon “Liz” McCollum, age 65, of Beaver Dam died yesterday at their home surrounded by family after a battle with cancer. Liz and Bill were married in 1982. She was a 1961 graduate of Kaukauna High School. She was the business manager for Dr. Schuler for many years and owned and operated Maid in Beaver Dam cleaning service. She later became a real estate agent and worked for Stan’s Realty. A memorial gathering will be held at Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Top Stories June 22nd
Hot and Humid Weather to Start the Week
6/22/09 - Summer officially began yesterday – and the season’s first 90-degree temperatures could hit Wisconsin as early as today. A warm front is pushing scattered thunderstorms from west-to-east during the day, with hot-and-humid conditions right behind it. Parts of Wisconsin could hit the low-90’s today – and virtually all of the Badger State has a chance at 90 tomorrow, with 95 possible in some spots under clear-to-partly cloudy skies. Another frontal system could move in late tomorrow night, with storms possible through Wednesday night. Over the weekend, the National Weather Service confirmed a weak tornado touchdown from Friday, about seven miles northwest of Kenosha. Only trees were damaged.
Woman Arrested after Report of Shots Fired
6/22/09 - A 33-year-old woman was arrested last night after allegedly driving by a residence and firing multiple gun shots. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says they took a report of shots fired on County Trunk C-C in the Town of Westford last night around 8 p.m. Deputies were able to make contact with those in the vehicle and arrested two of them. The 33-year-old woman was taken into custody on a charge of operating a firearm while intoxicated. A 29-year-old man was also arrested. No one was injured in the incident.
Six Injured in Town of Theresa Accidents Early Sunday
6/22/09 - Two rollover accidents in Theresa early Sunday morning injured six people. A 20-year-old man rolled his vehicle on Racoon Road around 5:30 and was taken to Froedert Hospital near Milwaukee. Authorities believe alcohol played a factor in the accident. A second rollover occurred about 20-minutes later on Highway 41 near Highway 28 in Theresa. The 37-year-old female driver and four others were injured and taken to the hospital where they were treated and released. The driver was cited for inattentive driving.
Law Enforcement Looking into Breaking and Entering in Williamstown
6/22/09 - Authorities are investigating a breaking and entering at a town of Williamstown home. The owner of the home on Highway T-W reported their TV had been smashed and a laptop stolen. Anyone with information is asked to call the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department or the anonymous WE-TIP Hotline at 800-78-CRIME.
Roecker Sentenced to Probation
6/22/09 - Three years of probation has been ordered for a 33-year-old Mayville man who was suspected of raping a Fond du Lac woman in September of 2007. Last week Matthew Roecker was sentenced on a false imprisonment charge to probation and a six month jail term that's at the discretion of his probation agent. A charge of 2nd degree sexual assault by use of force was dismissed. In January of 2008 Roecker's probation on a Dodge County drunken driving conviction was revoked and he's been serving a 30 month prison term.
Statements Can Be Used in FDL Cold Case
6/22/09 - Recorded statements made by a 53-year-old Ashwaubenon man to a Fond du Lac police investigator who was collecting a DNA sample can be used in the man's murder trial. Thomas Niesen (NEE-sun) is suspected of killing 19-year-old Kathleen Leichtman (LIKED-man) in July of 1976. A DNA sample he gave authorities following a child conviction last October matched one found on Leichtman's body. The statements Niesen made to the investigator happened when a second sample was being collected this past February. A two-week jury trial is scheduled in Fond du Lac County Court beginning August 24th.
Beaver Dam Recognized in Public Enemies Credits
6/22/09 - If the scenes shot in Beaver Dam for Public Enemies don’t make it into the movie the city will still be recognized by the movie makers. According to the production notes for the movie, the credits thank the city of Beaver Dam and its people. The movie, which follows the life of depression era gangster John Dillinger, shot a number of scenes in the city last spring. Others mentioned in the credits include the city of Columbus, former Mayor Nancy Osterhaus, the State of Wisconsin and Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton. The makers held a premiere for the movie in Chicago last week and will hold smaller parties around Wisconsin on June 30th before its released nationwide on July 1st.
Area Troops Get to Work in Iraq
6/22/09 - The troops making up the largest deployment of Wisconsin National Guard soldiers since World War II are getting settled in Iraq. Around 900 soldiers from the state are set up at Camp Cropper handling a number of different missions for the next 8-months. The base is located near Baghdad International Airport. As part of their duties the guard troops are helping train Iraqi corrections officers. About 180 soldiers from the 105th Cavalry’s Headquarters Troop from Madison and Watertown are assigned to missions at the base. According to Captain Karl Hanson, the commander of the Watertown troops, the unit is responsible for base defense including handling any threats to personnel inside the camp. Six other Wisconsin National Guard units with about 720 soldiers are also at the base. The soldiers are not expected to return to Wisconsin until early next year.
High Speed Rail Service Would Bring Peace and Quiet
6/22/09 - The proposed high-speed rail line from Milwaukee-to-Madison could finally bring peace-and-quiet to residents along the route. If federal stimulus funds are awarded, state officials say they’ll try to upgrade all crossings to the point where horns will no longer be needed when the train goes through. Ron Adams of the state D-O-T says the crossings will need improvements anyway to accommodate the 110-mile-an-hour line. And he says crews would be instructed to put in the grade separations and other improvements needed to qualify for federal “quiet zones” – which already exist in Wauwatosa and Oconomowoc Lake. The Milwaukee-to-Madison line is part of a larger proposal to connect a dozen large Midwest cities with high-speed rail service and would include a stop in Watertown. The Milwaukee-to-Madison segment would cost 519-million dollars. If the funding’s approved, that high-speed service could begin as early as 2012.
Winning Powerball Ticket Sold in North Carolina
6/22/09 - The Powerball jackpot goes back to 20-million-dollars on Wednesday, after a ticket sold in North Carolina won Saturday’s top prize of 88-million. Nobody in Wisconsin won the second prize, but three state players won 10-thousand-dollars each by matching four regular numbers plus the Powerball. Just over 22-thousand players in the Badger State won smaller prizes.
House to Vote on New Global Warming Bill
6/22/09 - The U-S House could vote as early as this week on the nation’s new effort to fight global warming. Madison Democrat Tammy Baldwin says it’s an opportunity for Wisconsin to move past its manufacturing traditions – while Menomonee Falls Republican Jim Sensenbrenner calls it “an economic declaration of war on the Midwest.” He’s long been a critic of the bill’s cap-and-trade system, which limits total air emissions and lets larger polluters buy credits from lesser-polluting industries – thus raising things like electric rates. But Wisconsin’s Jim Doyle and other Midwest governors have promoted a modified cap-and-trade which protects big energy users, while still encouraging more efficient factories and renewable energy. The state’s largest utility, We Energies, says it’s cautiously optimistic with the bill’s recent changes. But the Wisconsin Paper Council said the paper industry is not included in those changes, leaving it open to much higher costs.
6/22/09 - Summer officially began yesterday – and the season’s first 90-degree temperatures could hit Wisconsin as early as today. A warm front is pushing scattered thunderstorms from west-to-east during the day, with hot-and-humid conditions right behind it. Parts of Wisconsin could hit the low-90’s today – and virtually all of the Badger State has a chance at 90 tomorrow, with 95 possible in some spots under clear-to-partly cloudy skies. Another frontal system could move in late tomorrow night, with storms possible through Wednesday night. Over the weekend, the National Weather Service confirmed a weak tornado touchdown from Friday, about seven miles northwest of Kenosha. Only trees were damaged.
Woman Arrested after Report of Shots Fired
6/22/09 - A 33-year-old woman was arrested last night after allegedly driving by a residence and firing multiple gun shots. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says they took a report of shots fired on County Trunk C-C in the Town of Westford last night around 8 p.m. Deputies were able to make contact with those in the vehicle and arrested two of them. The 33-year-old woman was taken into custody on a charge of operating a firearm while intoxicated. A 29-year-old man was also arrested. No one was injured in the incident.
Six Injured in Town of Theresa Accidents Early Sunday
6/22/09 - Two rollover accidents in Theresa early Sunday morning injured six people. A 20-year-old man rolled his vehicle on Racoon Road around 5:30 and was taken to Froedert Hospital near Milwaukee. Authorities believe alcohol played a factor in the accident. A second rollover occurred about 20-minutes later on Highway 41 near Highway 28 in Theresa. The 37-year-old female driver and four others were injured and taken to the hospital where they were treated and released. The driver was cited for inattentive driving.
Law Enforcement Looking into Breaking and Entering in Williamstown
6/22/09 - Authorities are investigating a breaking and entering at a town of Williamstown home. The owner of the home on Highway T-W reported their TV had been smashed and a laptop stolen. Anyone with information is asked to call the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department or the anonymous WE-TIP Hotline at 800-78-CRIME.
Roecker Sentenced to Probation
6/22/09 - Three years of probation has been ordered for a 33-year-old Mayville man who was suspected of raping a Fond du Lac woman in September of 2007. Last week Matthew Roecker was sentenced on a false imprisonment charge to probation and a six month jail term that's at the discretion of his probation agent. A charge of 2nd degree sexual assault by use of force was dismissed. In January of 2008 Roecker's probation on a Dodge County drunken driving conviction was revoked and he's been serving a 30 month prison term.
Statements Can Be Used in FDL Cold Case
6/22/09 - Recorded statements made by a 53-year-old Ashwaubenon man to a Fond du Lac police investigator who was collecting a DNA sample can be used in the man's murder trial. Thomas Niesen (NEE-sun) is suspected of killing 19-year-old Kathleen Leichtman (LIKED-man) in July of 1976. A DNA sample he gave authorities following a child conviction last October matched one found on Leichtman's body. The statements Niesen made to the investigator happened when a second sample was being collected this past February. A two-week jury trial is scheduled in Fond du Lac County Court beginning August 24th.
Beaver Dam Recognized in Public Enemies Credits
6/22/09 - If the scenes shot in Beaver Dam for Public Enemies don’t make it into the movie the city will still be recognized by the movie makers. According to the production notes for the movie, the credits thank the city of Beaver Dam and its people. The movie, which follows the life of depression era gangster John Dillinger, shot a number of scenes in the city last spring. Others mentioned in the credits include the city of Columbus, former Mayor Nancy Osterhaus, the State of Wisconsin and Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton. The makers held a premiere for the movie in Chicago last week and will hold smaller parties around Wisconsin on June 30th before its released nationwide on July 1st.
Area Troops Get to Work in Iraq
6/22/09 - The troops making up the largest deployment of Wisconsin National Guard soldiers since World War II are getting settled in Iraq. Around 900 soldiers from the state are set up at Camp Cropper handling a number of different missions for the next 8-months. The base is located near Baghdad International Airport. As part of their duties the guard troops are helping train Iraqi corrections officers. About 180 soldiers from the 105th Cavalry’s Headquarters Troop from Madison and Watertown are assigned to missions at the base. According to Captain Karl Hanson, the commander of the Watertown troops, the unit is responsible for base defense including handling any threats to personnel inside the camp. Six other Wisconsin National Guard units with about 720 soldiers are also at the base. The soldiers are not expected to return to Wisconsin until early next year.
High Speed Rail Service Would Bring Peace and Quiet
6/22/09 - The proposed high-speed rail line from Milwaukee-to-Madison could finally bring peace-and-quiet to residents along the route. If federal stimulus funds are awarded, state officials say they’ll try to upgrade all crossings to the point where horns will no longer be needed when the train goes through. Ron Adams of the state D-O-T says the crossings will need improvements anyway to accommodate the 110-mile-an-hour line. And he says crews would be instructed to put in the grade separations and other improvements needed to qualify for federal “quiet zones” – which already exist in Wauwatosa and Oconomowoc Lake. The Milwaukee-to-Madison line is part of a larger proposal to connect a dozen large Midwest cities with high-speed rail service and would include a stop in Watertown. The Milwaukee-to-Madison segment would cost 519-million dollars. If the funding’s approved, that high-speed service could begin as early as 2012.
Winning Powerball Ticket Sold in North Carolina
6/22/09 - The Powerball jackpot goes back to 20-million-dollars on Wednesday, after a ticket sold in North Carolina won Saturday’s top prize of 88-million. Nobody in Wisconsin won the second prize, but three state players won 10-thousand-dollars each by matching four regular numbers plus the Powerball. Just over 22-thousand players in the Badger State won smaller prizes.
House to Vote on New Global Warming Bill
6/22/09 - The U-S House could vote as early as this week on the nation’s new effort to fight global warming. Madison Democrat Tammy Baldwin says it’s an opportunity for Wisconsin to move past its manufacturing traditions – while Menomonee Falls Republican Jim Sensenbrenner calls it “an economic declaration of war on the Midwest.” He’s long been a critic of the bill’s cap-and-trade system, which limits total air emissions and lets larger polluters buy credits from lesser-polluting industries – thus raising things like electric rates. But Wisconsin’s Jim Doyle and other Midwest governors have promoted a modified cap-and-trade which protects big energy users, while still encouraging more efficient factories and renewable energy. The state’s largest utility, We Energies, says it’s cautiously optimistic with the bill’s recent changes. But the Wisconsin Paper Council said the paper industry is not included in those changes, leaving it open to much higher costs.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Top Stories June 21st
Columbus Forms Ad Hoc Committee
6/21/09 - Columbus Mayor Bob Link called on Council Members Dave Bomkamp, Bill Bruns and Tyler Walker to form an Ad Hoc Committee that will be following up on recent temporary Emergency Management appointments. The Council approved filling the EOC positions for the next four months. The Ad Hoc Committee will be deciding on what kind of staffing should be funded and who should be in charge. Meanwhile, the recently appointed EOC directors Gerald Sallmann and Bob Zapotocny will be bringing the City’s Emergency Action plan up to date.
Woman Leads Authorities on Pursuit in Brown County
6/21/09 - A woman who led authorities on a chase in Brown County last night is facing her 5th drunk driving citation. The Wisconsin State Patrol says a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kimberly Rhoads nearly hit a state trooper’s cruiser as he was directing traffic on Highway 41 near Velp Avenue. The other Trooper on the scene then attempted to stop the Oconto Falls woman but instead she fled. After about 12-minutes the pursuit ended when authorities laid stop sticks and blew out three of four tires. Law Enforcement say charges being filed include 5th offense operating under the influence, fleeing a law enforcement officer, and possession of open intoxicants in a motor vehicle.
Water Possible Reason for Rockford Train Leaving Tracks
6/21/09 - The victim of Friday night's freight train derailment was sitting in a car waiting for the train to pass when it exploded. An area on the edge of Rockford was evacuated due to concerns about the release of hazardous materials into the air. The fire burned for hours. Three other people were in the car with the woman who was killed. They managed to run away, but they were severely burned by flaming ethanol. The Canadian National train had 114 cars. Seventy-four of them were carrying ethanol. Standing water may have been a factor in the cars leaving the tracks. They could have hydro-planed, according to witnesses, shortly before the explosions started.
Attendance Tied to Performance in School
6/21/09 - Educators say it's simple -- to be successful in school and in life, you have to be in class. A Brown County United Way summit on education examined the problem of school attendance Friday. Nearly one out of four students in that county missed 10 or more school days in an average 176-day school year. Twenty-four percent of high school seniors missed at least 20 school days. One person working of truancy problems says he used to think getting tough was the answer. Now, he advocates giving them a good reason to stay in class. He says the kids who are skipping are confused, lost and need help.
Drugs Not Just a Big City Problem
6/21/09 - People move to small towns like Antigo to get away from the threat of drugs like heroin. That may not work any more. Antigo Police Chief Eric Roller says five people there have almost died in the last six months after taking heroin. A 24 year old man and 19 year old woman overdosed on the drug last week. Heroin is very potent and its use can lead to overdoses and even death. Roller says law enforcement in that part of central Wisconsin has been focusing on reducing the abuse of prescription drugs. He says people could simply be finding it easier to find heroin to use than prescription pills.
More Parents Moving in with their Kids
6/21/09 - Changing demographics and a flat housing market have more parents and children sharing the home as adults, and that often means remodeling. Germantown remodeler Ken Conner says it's important to know what's allowed in your area. Connor says if you have a good set of plans, you know what the rules and guidelines are for the municipality, you simply need to go before the architectural review board and, in most cases, they'll approve it. He says the stagnant housing market has people looking to re-purpose existing space as living space for adult children or aging parents.
Milton Football Player to Serve 40 Days for Sexual Assault
6/21/09 - A high school football star from Milton reports to jail tomorrow on a sex assault sentence. The teen is accused of raping a 15-year-old girl. Zachary Fry will be allowed to serve a lighter sentence through a plea agreement, in part, because a Rock County judge said he shows remorse. Fry is 18 years old. He was sentenced to 40 days in jail with one day credited, a weekly sexual offender treatment group and restitution to the girl's family for therapy costs. If he complies with the terms of the plea deal, he will be able to attend college in the fall. Fry has a football scholarship at Minnesota State University at Moorhead. The accuser says Fry assaulted her in a Milton home in January despite her repeated refusals. Prosecutors at the sentencing hearing said alcohol was used by both parties.
Court Says Norway Man Must Repay $6M
6/21/09 - The court rules a Norway man has to pay more than six million dollars in restitution to victims of his investment fraud. Duane Boechler will spend 15 years in prison. He reportedly convinced more than two dozen people to invest in companies he made up. They didn't exist. Boechler convinced his victims to take out loans so they could give him their money to invest. Some used their homes as collateral. He got them to cash out retirement accounts. Court documents show the 52 year old gave his victims some interest payments, but used their money to live a luxurious lifestyle and conceal his ongoing scheme. The people were defrauded between 1998 and 2007.
Bad Weather Played Role in Fatal Plane Crash
6/21/09 - National Traffic Safety Board investigators say bad weather played a role in a fatal plane crash this month that killed a Sheboygan father and his teenage son. Doctor David Holtrop was not rated to fly his personal plane on instruments alone, but the weather conditions required that. The NTSB did not assign blame in the crash. Holtrop's 16 year old son Max were returning to Sheboygan from St. Paul, Minnesota. They had been on a paintball outing to celebrate the son's birthday. The area was blanketed by fog cover when the plane went down in Jackson County, Wisconsin.
6/21/09 - Columbus Mayor Bob Link called on Council Members Dave Bomkamp, Bill Bruns and Tyler Walker to form an Ad Hoc Committee that will be following up on recent temporary Emergency Management appointments. The Council approved filling the EOC positions for the next four months. The Ad Hoc Committee will be deciding on what kind of staffing should be funded and who should be in charge. Meanwhile, the recently appointed EOC directors Gerald Sallmann and Bob Zapotocny will be bringing the City’s Emergency Action plan up to date.
Woman Leads Authorities on Pursuit in Brown County
6/21/09 - A woman who led authorities on a chase in Brown County last night is facing her 5th drunk driving citation. The Wisconsin State Patrol says a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Kimberly Rhoads nearly hit a state trooper’s cruiser as he was directing traffic on Highway 41 near Velp Avenue. The other Trooper on the scene then attempted to stop the Oconto Falls woman but instead she fled. After about 12-minutes the pursuit ended when authorities laid stop sticks and blew out three of four tires. Law Enforcement say charges being filed include 5th offense operating under the influence, fleeing a law enforcement officer, and possession of open intoxicants in a motor vehicle.
Water Possible Reason for Rockford Train Leaving Tracks
6/21/09 - The victim of Friday night's freight train derailment was sitting in a car waiting for the train to pass when it exploded. An area on the edge of Rockford was evacuated due to concerns about the release of hazardous materials into the air. The fire burned for hours. Three other people were in the car with the woman who was killed. They managed to run away, but they were severely burned by flaming ethanol. The Canadian National train had 114 cars. Seventy-four of them were carrying ethanol. Standing water may have been a factor in the cars leaving the tracks. They could have hydro-planed, according to witnesses, shortly before the explosions started.
Attendance Tied to Performance in School
6/21/09 - Educators say it's simple -- to be successful in school and in life, you have to be in class. A Brown County United Way summit on education examined the problem of school attendance Friday. Nearly one out of four students in that county missed 10 or more school days in an average 176-day school year. Twenty-four percent of high school seniors missed at least 20 school days. One person working of truancy problems says he used to think getting tough was the answer. Now, he advocates giving them a good reason to stay in class. He says the kids who are skipping are confused, lost and need help.
Drugs Not Just a Big City Problem
6/21/09 - People move to small towns like Antigo to get away from the threat of drugs like heroin. That may not work any more. Antigo Police Chief Eric Roller says five people there have almost died in the last six months after taking heroin. A 24 year old man and 19 year old woman overdosed on the drug last week. Heroin is very potent and its use can lead to overdoses and even death. Roller says law enforcement in that part of central Wisconsin has been focusing on reducing the abuse of prescription drugs. He says people could simply be finding it easier to find heroin to use than prescription pills.
More Parents Moving in with their Kids
6/21/09 - Changing demographics and a flat housing market have more parents and children sharing the home as adults, and that often means remodeling. Germantown remodeler Ken Conner says it's important to know what's allowed in your area. Connor says if you have a good set of plans, you know what the rules and guidelines are for the municipality, you simply need to go before the architectural review board and, in most cases, they'll approve it. He says the stagnant housing market has people looking to re-purpose existing space as living space for adult children or aging parents.
Milton Football Player to Serve 40 Days for Sexual Assault
6/21/09 - A high school football star from Milton reports to jail tomorrow on a sex assault sentence. The teen is accused of raping a 15-year-old girl. Zachary Fry will be allowed to serve a lighter sentence through a plea agreement, in part, because a Rock County judge said he shows remorse. Fry is 18 years old. He was sentenced to 40 days in jail with one day credited, a weekly sexual offender treatment group and restitution to the girl's family for therapy costs. If he complies with the terms of the plea deal, he will be able to attend college in the fall. Fry has a football scholarship at Minnesota State University at Moorhead. The accuser says Fry assaulted her in a Milton home in January despite her repeated refusals. Prosecutors at the sentencing hearing said alcohol was used by both parties.
Court Says Norway Man Must Repay $6M
6/21/09 - The court rules a Norway man has to pay more than six million dollars in restitution to victims of his investment fraud. Duane Boechler will spend 15 years in prison. He reportedly convinced more than two dozen people to invest in companies he made up. They didn't exist. Boechler convinced his victims to take out loans so they could give him their money to invest. Some used their homes as collateral. He got them to cash out retirement accounts. Court documents show the 52 year old gave his victims some interest payments, but used their money to live a luxurious lifestyle and conceal his ongoing scheme. The people were defrauded between 1998 and 2007.
Bad Weather Played Role in Fatal Plane Crash
6/21/09 - National Traffic Safety Board investigators say bad weather played a role in a fatal plane crash this month that killed a Sheboygan father and his teenage son. Doctor David Holtrop was not rated to fly his personal plane on instruments alone, but the weather conditions required that. The NTSB did not assign blame in the crash. Holtrop's 16 year old son Max were returning to Sheboygan from St. Paul, Minnesota. They had been on a paintball outing to celebrate the son's birthday. The area was blanketed by fog cover when the plane went down in Jackson County, Wisconsin.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Top Stories June 20th
Local Man Wins WSP Event
6/20/09 - A former Beaver Dam and UW-Whitewater baseball player is making big money – but not by playing the game. Eric Baldwin won 522-thousand dollars in a World Series of Poker event this week in Las Vegas. The 26-year-old Baldwin grew up in Beaver Dam, majored in psychology at Whitewater, and moved to Las Vegas recently to focus on a full-time poker career. Baldwin said he spent about half of last year playing in various poker tournaments in Vegas, so he decided to forget the snow and live there full-time. Almost 21-hundred people played in the No-Limit-Hold-‘Em tournament he won. He paid a 15-hundred-dollar fee to get in. Madison poker pro Phil Hellmuth also finished in the money in the same event.
Man Facing 9th OWI
6/20/09 - A Beaver Dam man could be looking at his 9th drunk driving citation after being pulled over Thursday evening. The Beaver Dam Police Department says a woman reported seeing a vehicle driven by 42-year-old William A. Reese swerving near the intersection of Spring and DeClark Streets around 8 p.m. After he was pulled over Reese refused a breathalyzer. Authorities arrested him on a probation and parole hold and booked him into the Dodge County Jail. Reese has been charged with obstruction and driving on a revoked license. The District Attorney’s office expect to charge Reese on the drunk driving charge in the coming weeks after they finish reviewing his criminal history.
FDL Cold Case in Court
6/20/09 - Detectives say they knew they couldn't question a suspect in a 32 year old cold case when they met with him to collect a DNA sample. They say Thomas Niesen brought up DNA without being asked, saying it took him by surprise and that the DNA might tie him to other cases. The meeting took place in the Fond du Lac County Jail last February. Niesen is accused of killing dancer Kathleen Leichtman July 15, 1976, leaving her body along side the road. He was tied to the killing when he had to submit a DNA sample as a part of a sentence for child abuse last year. It was a match for semen collected from the dead woman from the 32 year old case.
Metal-Craft Extending Layoff Time
6/20/09 - Employees of a Mayville company will be laid off longer than expected. Metal-craft has told state officials that 325 layoffs will go beyond the originally-scheduled period of six months. The firm did not say how long the extension would be. The layoffs involve 244 employees in Mayville, and 81 others at a plant in West Bend. Metal-craft does pre-fabrication and post-fabrication metal work. Last week, the company said it would close another of its plants in Greensboro North Carolina in September, putting 120 people out of work.
Another Person Dies From Highway 41 Accident
6/20/09 - A fourth person has died of injuries suffered in that wrong-way crash on Highway 41 in Brown County early Friday morning. Investigators say they suspect alcohol played a part in the fatal crash, but toxicology test results won't be available for up to two weeks. The Brown County Sheriff's office reports Stephen Siebert was driving his vehicle the wrong way on the divided highway when he slammed into another car. He was killed, as were three people in the second car. Siebert was apparently involved in a separate traffic accident on the same highway before the fatal crash.
Tornado Touches Down in Kenosha
6/20/09 - A confirmed tornado west of Kenosha was part of a second straight day of heavy weather in Wisconsin. Trees were blown down by high winds a day after heavy rains caused some serious flooding. Winds gusted 60 to 70 miles per hour at Pleasant Prairie. Two National Weather Service spotters reported the tornado about five miles from Kenosha a little after 6 p.m. Friday. People lost power and traffic on I-94 was affected for a time. More than five thousand customers lost power during the storms.
Schools and Municipalities Must Increase Contributions of Pension Plans
6/20/09 - Local governments and school systems will have to increase their contributions to employee pension plans next year. The point-six percent increase was approved by the Employee Trust Funds board Friday. It affects about 90 percent of the more than 260 thousand workers enrolled in the state retirement system. The increases are needed to help keep retirement funds solvent after the recession had a dramatic impact on those funds in 2008. Government agencies will now have to chip in 11 percent of salaries earned to those funds.
GOP Will Continue to Say No to State Budget
6/20/09 - Republicans will continue to vote "no" on the state budget, no matter what changes are made to the plan. That's according to Senator Alan Lasee, who says GOP lawmakers have big problems with the package. He says the budget is filled with endless tax increases, ranging from taxes on capital gains to garbage. All Republicans in both the Senate and Assembly have voted against the budget, and Lasee predicts that won't change when a compromise emerges from a legislative conference committee.
6/20/09 - A former Beaver Dam and UW-Whitewater baseball player is making big money – but not by playing the game. Eric Baldwin won 522-thousand dollars in a World Series of Poker event this week in Las Vegas. The 26-year-old Baldwin grew up in Beaver Dam, majored in psychology at Whitewater, and moved to Las Vegas recently to focus on a full-time poker career. Baldwin said he spent about half of last year playing in various poker tournaments in Vegas, so he decided to forget the snow and live there full-time. Almost 21-hundred people played in the No-Limit-Hold-‘Em tournament he won. He paid a 15-hundred-dollar fee to get in. Madison poker pro Phil Hellmuth also finished in the money in the same event.
Man Facing 9th OWI
6/20/09 - A Beaver Dam man could be looking at his 9th drunk driving citation after being pulled over Thursday evening. The Beaver Dam Police Department says a woman reported seeing a vehicle driven by 42-year-old William A. Reese swerving near the intersection of Spring and DeClark Streets around 8 p.m. After he was pulled over Reese refused a breathalyzer. Authorities arrested him on a probation and parole hold and booked him into the Dodge County Jail. Reese has been charged with obstruction and driving on a revoked license. The District Attorney’s office expect to charge Reese on the drunk driving charge in the coming weeks after they finish reviewing his criminal history.
FDL Cold Case in Court
6/20/09 - Detectives say they knew they couldn't question a suspect in a 32 year old cold case when they met with him to collect a DNA sample. They say Thomas Niesen brought up DNA without being asked, saying it took him by surprise and that the DNA might tie him to other cases. The meeting took place in the Fond du Lac County Jail last February. Niesen is accused of killing dancer Kathleen Leichtman July 15, 1976, leaving her body along side the road. He was tied to the killing when he had to submit a DNA sample as a part of a sentence for child abuse last year. It was a match for semen collected from the dead woman from the 32 year old case.
Metal-Craft Extending Layoff Time
6/20/09 - Employees of a Mayville company will be laid off longer than expected. Metal-craft has told state officials that 325 layoffs will go beyond the originally-scheduled period of six months. The firm did not say how long the extension would be. The layoffs involve 244 employees in Mayville, and 81 others at a plant in West Bend. Metal-craft does pre-fabrication and post-fabrication metal work. Last week, the company said it would close another of its plants in Greensboro North Carolina in September, putting 120 people out of work.
Another Person Dies From Highway 41 Accident
6/20/09 - A fourth person has died of injuries suffered in that wrong-way crash on Highway 41 in Brown County early Friday morning. Investigators say they suspect alcohol played a part in the fatal crash, but toxicology test results won't be available for up to two weeks. The Brown County Sheriff's office reports Stephen Siebert was driving his vehicle the wrong way on the divided highway when he slammed into another car. He was killed, as were three people in the second car. Siebert was apparently involved in a separate traffic accident on the same highway before the fatal crash.
Tornado Touches Down in Kenosha
6/20/09 - A confirmed tornado west of Kenosha was part of a second straight day of heavy weather in Wisconsin. Trees were blown down by high winds a day after heavy rains caused some serious flooding. Winds gusted 60 to 70 miles per hour at Pleasant Prairie. Two National Weather Service spotters reported the tornado about five miles from Kenosha a little after 6 p.m. Friday. People lost power and traffic on I-94 was affected for a time. More than five thousand customers lost power during the storms.
Schools and Municipalities Must Increase Contributions of Pension Plans
6/20/09 - Local governments and school systems will have to increase their contributions to employee pension plans next year. The point-six percent increase was approved by the Employee Trust Funds board Friday. It affects about 90 percent of the more than 260 thousand workers enrolled in the state retirement system. The increases are needed to help keep retirement funds solvent after the recession had a dramatic impact on those funds in 2008. Government agencies will now have to chip in 11 percent of salaries earned to those funds.
GOP Will Continue to Say No to State Budget
6/20/09 - Republicans will continue to vote "no" on the state budget, no matter what changes are made to the plan. That's according to Senator Alan Lasee, who says GOP lawmakers have big problems with the package. He says the budget is filled with endless tax increases, ranging from taxes on capital gains to garbage. All Republicans in both the Senate and Assembly have voted against the budget, and Lasee predicts that won't change when a compromise emerges from a legislative conference committee.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Top Stories June 19th
Children’s Radiothon Sets New Record
6/19/09 - It was a record setting year for the WBEV/WXRO Radiothon. The 12th Annual Event spanned 27-hours, 7-regions and Good Karma Broadcasting President and CEO Craig Karmazin says the close to $117,000 raised smashed the previous record of just over $100,000.
The money was raised to benefit Dodge County Area agencies including, Green Valley Enterprises, Clothes for Kids, the Beaver Dam Teen Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the YMCA of Dodge County, the Parent Resource Place and People Against Violent Environments.
A new event in this year’s lineup was Noel’s Angel Walk. The event was coordinated by Lori and Scott Smith of Beaver Dam and is dedicated to their late daughter Noel Ann Smith, who died at the age of one last March. Around 250 people walked the 2.5 mile route yesterday morning and the total amount raised from the walk was an astonishing $17,025. And for the 2nd time as part of the Radiothon those organizations competed against each other for the DCS Cup. The brain child of John Kraft, the event involved those agencies in 7-different regions raising money in a variety of ways. The Challenge raised nearly $6,000 overall and the winning region, Randolph/Fox Lake, raised more than $3,000.
There were also a number of other ways the event made money including a Car Wash at Tower Lanes, a Motorcycle Ride, and a daytime and nighttime brat fry. However, the foundation of the event is the on-air auction that started at 6 a.m. yesterday and finished at 9 a.m. this morning. Karmazin says the whole event is a really a team effort and he singled out office manager Jill Cullen as the leader.
With the totals from this year’s event the Radiothon has now raised more than $940,000 during the past 12 years.
Severe Thunderstorms Roll through Southern WI
6/19/09 - Southern Wisconsin got hit by intense thunderstorms overnight. A funnel cloud was spotted near Union Grove in Racine County about one this morning – but there were no immediate reports of tornado touchdowns. Union Grove also had 68-mile-an-hour winds. In our area, the storms dropped a lot of rain but the only damage reported, as of this morning, was a downed tree over a highway near Iron Ridge. Rain totals vary but Watertown is reporting more than 4-inches while at the wastewater facility in Beaver Dam got 1.36-inches. Officials say despite the heavy rain the river in Beaver Dam is not in danger of jumping its banks.
The National Weather Service says more thunderstorms are likely today and tonight in much of Wisconsin. Partly cloudy skies are predicted for the weekend. Highs in the 70’s-and-80’s are expected the next two days, and all of Wisconsin could see the 80’s on Sunday.
Shurpit and Amond Bound Over for Trial
6/19/09 - The Fox Lake man accused of sparking a seven-hour standoff with authorities earlier this month was bound over for trial yesterday in Dodge County court. Ronald Shurpit is charged with felony counts of Battery to Law Enforcement and Intentionally Pointing a Firearm at an Officer. According to the criminal complaint, a Fox Lake officer attempted to serve a Washington County warrant on the 50-year-old for Failure to Pay Child Support in excess of $6000. That’s when authorities say Shurpit “forcibly tried to push a running law mower onto the legs and feet of the officers” at least three times. Shurpit wound up on his back but reportedly continued to kick at the officer. The officer tried unsuccessfully to use a tazer gun during the struggle before spraying pepper spray, which also wound up in the officers eyes. Shurpit and the officers both had weapons drawn but the officer refrained from shooting because there was a small child in the immediate area. Shurpit retreated into his residence, where he stayed for 7 hours before walking out unarmed. Over 80 rounds of tear gas were launched into the residence. Shurpit faces over 12 years in prison if convicted. Arraignment for Shurpit is set for July 15th.
Shurpit’s girlfriend was also in court yesterday and she was bound over for trial for her role in the standoff. April L. Amond was in Dodge County court yesterday on a felony charge of Battery to Law Enforcement and misdemeanor Resisting Arrest. During the altercation, Shurpit allegedly yelled at Amond “kill him, kill him, kill him.” The 41-year-old was holding a small child in her arms and reportedly threw something at the officer before retreating into the house and grabbing a small steak knife. Amond faces nearly seven years in prison if convicted. She’s due back in court July 15th.
Driver Goes Wrong Way, Kills Three
6/19/09 - Three people were killed south of Green Bay overnight, when a driver going the wrong way on the Highway 41 expressway slammed into another vehicle. That driver was killed, along with two females in the other vehicle. It happened about 12:50 this morning in the southbound lanes of 41 in Ashwaubenon. Brown County sheriff’s deputies said the wrong-way driver was alone in his vehicle and died at the scene. A male in the other car was hospitalized in critical condition. The victims’ names were not immediately released. The crash remains under investigation.
Washington County Fire Destroys Garage
6/19/09 - Fire destroyed a detached garage and its contents in Washington County's Town of Barton last night. Sheriff's officials say fire departments from Kohlsville, Kewaskum and Allenton put the blaze out on Glacier Drive. It's believed the fire started because a garage door was left open while a burning barrel was being used within 9 feet of the structure. No one was hurt putting out the fire. Damage estimates are set at about $47,500. (KFIZ)
Assembly & Senate Expected to Work Out Differences Between Budgets
6/19/09 - State government watch-dogs are not happy to hear that a final legislative agreement on the new state budget might be drafted in secret. Jay Heck of Common Cause says people will wonder what got promised to whom. And Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says it makes taxpayers believe their representatives are hiding something – and it just makes them more suspicious of all politicians. Senate President Fred Risser said yesterday there might not be a need for a conference committee to work out differences between the Senate and Assembly versions of the budget. Risser said it’s possible that leaders of both houses could meet informally by themselves to draft a final agreement on the two-year, 62-billion dollar spending plan. The next public action on the budget is not planned until Tuesday at the earliest. Governor Jim Doyle wants it approved by July first.
Officials Watching Swine Flu Closely as Kids Summer Programs Start
6/19/09 - With child camps and summer school about to open, Wisconsin health experts are watching swine flu trends more closely than ever. Milwaukee has had 700 new cases in less than a week, even though officials had expected the outbreak to slow down during the summer. Chief medical officer Geoffrey Swain is not encouraging public places to disinfect their buildings – but he says routine cleaning is a must. Milwaukee reported 26-hundred-18 cases of the H-1-N-1 virus as of yesterday. Wisconsin had 34-hundred-seven cases in its last report on Tuesday including four deaths – three in Milwaukee and one near Wausau. Swain says folks in Milwaukee could be running into people who have the virus and not know it. It appears to spread when a person coughs or sneezes – and then another person sees droplets. It’s also spread by hand-shaking, which is why health officials encourage everyone to wash their hands more often. At Camp Anokijig in Plymouth, director Jim Scherer says nobody eats until their hands get squirted with disinfectant. Two of Wisconsin’s four deaths were children – and experts say the swine flu has killed a larger proportion of young people than the average winter flu strains.
Leon Charged in Stolen Plane Case
6/19/09 - The man who told authorities he stole a plane in Canada and flew it into Wisconsin so the military could shoot him down and kill him has been charged with three federal counts. A grand jury in Saint Louis indicted 31-year-old Adam Leon yesterday for importing a stolen aircraft, flying a stolen aircraft over more than one state, and illegal entry into the U-S. At a court hearing yesterday, Leon was ruled mentally competent to stand trial after a judge ordered an exam in April. He was sent back to jail, pending further court proceedings. Authorities said Leon stole a plane from his flight school in Ontario April sixth, and flew it across Wisconsin and two other states before it nearly ran out of fuel. Officials said he landed the craft near Ellsinore Missouri, got a ride from a passer-by, and was drinking a Gatorade at a convenience store when he was arrested without incident. The flight got within five miles of the State Capitol in Madison. And because state officials had no idea what the pilot was up to, they sent workers home late in the afternoon as the plane got closer.
Hunting Age Could Be Lowered
6/19/09 - Wisconsin is now just one step away from lowering its minimum hunting age from 12-to-10. The state Assembly gave final legislative approval yesterday to a bill that lets 10-year-olds hunt with adult mentors, and a safety course would not be required like it is now. The two would have to share a weapon, and the adult must stay in arm’s reach of the child. Republican Scott Gunderson of Waterford said it’s important to include young people in the activities that many adults hold near-and-dear. Balsam Lake Democrat Ann Hraychuck says the mentoring concept has proven to be a safe way to hunt. D-N-R chief warden Randy Stark says the program could also attract adults – including women – who want to try out the sport. The Assembly sent the measure to Governor Jim Doyle on a voice vote. Doyle spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner says the governor supports the concept, but he wants to review the language before promising to sign it. Thirty states do not have minimum hunting ages. 28 others have apprenticeship programs similar to the Wisconsin bill. Also, the Assembly voted to let Milwaukee events like “Jazz in the Park” let people carry in their own alcohol. That measure now goes to the Senate.
6/19/09 - It was a record setting year for the WBEV/WXRO Radiothon. The 12th Annual Event spanned 27-hours, 7-regions and Good Karma Broadcasting President and CEO Craig Karmazin says the close to $117,000 raised smashed the previous record of just over $100,000.
The money was raised to benefit Dodge County Area agencies including, Green Valley Enterprises, Clothes for Kids, the Beaver Dam Teen Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the YMCA of Dodge County, the Parent Resource Place and People Against Violent Environments.
A new event in this year’s lineup was Noel’s Angel Walk. The event was coordinated by Lori and Scott Smith of Beaver Dam and is dedicated to their late daughter Noel Ann Smith, who died at the age of one last March. Around 250 people walked the 2.5 mile route yesterday morning and the total amount raised from the walk was an astonishing $17,025. And for the 2nd time as part of the Radiothon those organizations competed against each other for the DCS Cup. The brain child of John Kraft, the event involved those agencies in 7-different regions raising money in a variety of ways. The Challenge raised nearly $6,000 overall and the winning region, Randolph/Fox Lake, raised more than $3,000.
There were also a number of other ways the event made money including a Car Wash at Tower Lanes, a Motorcycle Ride, and a daytime and nighttime brat fry. However, the foundation of the event is the on-air auction that started at 6 a.m. yesterday and finished at 9 a.m. this morning. Karmazin says the whole event is a really a team effort and he singled out office manager Jill Cullen as the leader.
With the totals from this year’s event the Radiothon has now raised more than $940,000 during the past 12 years.
Severe Thunderstorms Roll through Southern WI
6/19/09 - Southern Wisconsin got hit by intense thunderstorms overnight. A funnel cloud was spotted near Union Grove in Racine County about one this morning – but there were no immediate reports of tornado touchdowns. Union Grove also had 68-mile-an-hour winds. In our area, the storms dropped a lot of rain but the only damage reported, as of this morning, was a downed tree over a highway near Iron Ridge. Rain totals vary but Watertown is reporting more than 4-inches while at the wastewater facility in Beaver Dam got 1.36-inches. Officials say despite the heavy rain the river in Beaver Dam is not in danger of jumping its banks.
The National Weather Service says more thunderstorms are likely today and tonight in much of Wisconsin. Partly cloudy skies are predicted for the weekend. Highs in the 70’s-and-80’s are expected the next two days, and all of Wisconsin could see the 80’s on Sunday.
Shurpit and Amond Bound Over for Trial
6/19/09 - The Fox Lake man accused of sparking a seven-hour standoff with authorities earlier this month was bound over for trial yesterday in Dodge County court. Ronald Shurpit is charged with felony counts of Battery to Law Enforcement and Intentionally Pointing a Firearm at an Officer. According to the criminal complaint, a Fox Lake officer attempted to serve a Washington County warrant on the 50-year-old for Failure to Pay Child Support in excess of $6000. That’s when authorities say Shurpit “forcibly tried to push a running law mower onto the legs and feet of the officers” at least three times. Shurpit wound up on his back but reportedly continued to kick at the officer. The officer tried unsuccessfully to use a tazer gun during the struggle before spraying pepper spray, which also wound up in the officers eyes. Shurpit and the officers both had weapons drawn but the officer refrained from shooting because there was a small child in the immediate area. Shurpit retreated into his residence, where he stayed for 7 hours before walking out unarmed. Over 80 rounds of tear gas were launched into the residence. Shurpit faces over 12 years in prison if convicted. Arraignment for Shurpit is set for July 15th.
Shurpit’s girlfriend was also in court yesterday and she was bound over for trial for her role in the standoff. April L. Amond was in Dodge County court yesterday on a felony charge of Battery to Law Enforcement and misdemeanor Resisting Arrest. During the altercation, Shurpit allegedly yelled at Amond “kill him, kill him, kill him.” The 41-year-old was holding a small child in her arms and reportedly threw something at the officer before retreating into the house and grabbing a small steak knife. Amond faces nearly seven years in prison if convicted. She’s due back in court July 15th.
Driver Goes Wrong Way, Kills Three
6/19/09 - Three people were killed south of Green Bay overnight, when a driver going the wrong way on the Highway 41 expressway slammed into another vehicle. That driver was killed, along with two females in the other vehicle. It happened about 12:50 this morning in the southbound lanes of 41 in Ashwaubenon. Brown County sheriff’s deputies said the wrong-way driver was alone in his vehicle and died at the scene. A male in the other car was hospitalized in critical condition. The victims’ names were not immediately released. The crash remains under investigation.
Washington County Fire Destroys Garage
6/19/09 - Fire destroyed a detached garage and its contents in Washington County's Town of Barton last night. Sheriff's officials say fire departments from Kohlsville, Kewaskum and Allenton put the blaze out on Glacier Drive. It's believed the fire started because a garage door was left open while a burning barrel was being used within 9 feet of the structure. No one was hurt putting out the fire. Damage estimates are set at about $47,500. (KFIZ)
Assembly & Senate Expected to Work Out Differences Between Budgets
6/19/09 - State government watch-dogs are not happy to hear that a final legislative agreement on the new state budget might be drafted in secret. Jay Heck of Common Cause says people will wonder what got promised to whom. And Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says it makes taxpayers believe their representatives are hiding something – and it just makes them more suspicious of all politicians. Senate President Fred Risser said yesterday there might not be a need for a conference committee to work out differences between the Senate and Assembly versions of the budget. Risser said it’s possible that leaders of both houses could meet informally by themselves to draft a final agreement on the two-year, 62-billion dollar spending plan. The next public action on the budget is not planned until Tuesday at the earliest. Governor Jim Doyle wants it approved by July first.
Officials Watching Swine Flu Closely as Kids Summer Programs Start
6/19/09 - With child camps and summer school about to open, Wisconsin health experts are watching swine flu trends more closely than ever. Milwaukee has had 700 new cases in less than a week, even though officials had expected the outbreak to slow down during the summer. Chief medical officer Geoffrey Swain is not encouraging public places to disinfect their buildings – but he says routine cleaning is a must. Milwaukee reported 26-hundred-18 cases of the H-1-N-1 virus as of yesterday. Wisconsin had 34-hundred-seven cases in its last report on Tuesday including four deaths – three in Milwaukee and one near Wausau. Swain says folks in Milwaukee could be running into people who have the virus and not know it. It appears to spread when a person coughs or sneezes – and then another person sees droplets. It’s also spread by hand-shaking, which is why health officials encourage everyone to wash their hands more often. At Camp Anokijig in Plymouth, director Jim Scherer says nobody eats until their hands get squirted with disinfectant. Two of Wisconsin’s four deaths were children – and experts say the swine flu has killed a larger proportion of young people than the average winter flu strains.
Leon Charged in Stolen Plane Case
6/19/09 - The man who told authorities he stole a plane in Canada and flew it into Wisconsin so the military could shoot him down and kill him has been charged with three federal counts. A grand jury in Saint Louis indicted 31-year-old Adam Leon yesterday for importing a stolen aircraft, flying a stolen aircraft over more than one state, and illegal entry into the U-S. At a court hearing yesterday, Leon was ruled mentally competent to stand trial after a judge ordered an exam in April. He was sent back to jail, pending further court proceedings. Authorities said Leon stole a plane from his flight school in Ontario April sixth, and flew it across Wisconsin and two other states before it nearly ran out of fuel. Officials said he landed the craft near Ellsinore Missouri, got a ride from a passer-by, and was drinking a Gatorade at a convenience store when he was arrested without incident. The flight got within five miles of the State Capitol in Madison. And because state officials had no idea what the pilot was up to, they sent workers home late in the afternoon as the plane got closer.
Hunting Age Could Be Lowered
6/19/09 - Wisconsin is now just one step away from lowering its minimum hunting age from 12-to-10. The state Assembly gave final legislative approval yesterday to a bill that lets 10-year-olds hunt with adult mentors, and a safety course would not be required like it is now. The two would have to share a weapon, and the adult must stay in arm’s reach of the child. Republican Scott Gunderson of Waterford said it’s important to include young people in the activities that many adults hold near-and-dear. Balsam Lake Democrat Ann Hraychuck says the mentoring concept has proven to be a safe way to hunt. D-N-R chief warden Randy Stark says the program could also attract adults – including women – who want to try out the sport. The Assembly sent the measure to Governor Jim Doyle on a voice vote. Doyle spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner says the governor supports the concept, but he wants to review the language before promising to sign it. Thirty states do not have minimum hunting ages. 28 others have apprenticeship programs similar to the Wisconsin bill. Also, the Assembly voted to let Milwaukee events like “Jazz in the Park” let people carry in their own alcohol. That measure now goes to the Senate.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Top Stories June 18th
Children's Radiothon is Here!
6/18/09 - The 12th Annual WBEV/WXRO Children’s Radiothon is here with a full day of activities to benefit seven local charities. It all started with a live on-air auction this morning at 6 a.m., which will continue through 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. The 1st annual Noel’s Angel Walk started at 7 a.m. at Waterworks Park. John Kraft will be traveling around the county to seven different locations this morning as the organizations compete for the 2nd Annual DCS Cup. Other events include a rummage sale from 8 until 11 this morning here at the station, 100 Stoddart Street. We’ll also be hosting a dessert auction beginning at 9am through 11 in front of the studio. Later this morning their will be a Car Wash & Brat Fry at Tower Lanes starting at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then tonight we will have a street dance, also in front of the station. That begins at 6 p.m. and will include music, food, a guitar hero contest and more. Also starting at 6 p.m. will be the annual motorcycle ride. It will leave from John's Bar in Beaver Dam. There will be a stop at the American Legion Bar in Fox Lake and ending at the radio station at 8 p.m. The seven organizations benefiting from the Children’s Radiothon are P.A.V.E., The Parent Resource Place, Beaver Dam Teen Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Dodge County, Green Valley Enterprises, YMCA of Dodge County, and Clothes for Kids.
Senate Passes its Version of Budget
6/18/09 - The Wisconsin Senate passed a state budget last night that would pay for new roads by removing tax breaks on capital gains instead of raising the gas tax. It’s one of many changes Senate Democrats made to the budget passed by the Assembly last weekend. The vote was 17-to-16 to pass the two-year, 62-billion-dollar spending package. All 15 Republicans voted no, as expected. Jim Sullivan from Wauwatosa was the only Democrat to vote against the passage. The Senates budget also drops the special driving cards and in-state U-W tuition for illegal immigrants passed in the Assembly version. The budget still includes around two-billion-dollars in tax-and-fee hikes, plus spending cuts and federal stimulus funds aimed at covering a six-point-six billion dollar shortfall in revenues. A conference committee will now work out the differences between the two houses. And Governor Jim Doyle wants the panel to act quickly so the budget can take effect July first as scheduled.
Southeast Wisconsin Conduct Homeland Security Training Exercise
6/18/09 - It was the nation’s largest homeland security training exercise. Army Reservists joined local authorities and hospital personnel yesterday in testing their response to a major chemical attack. Ten hospitals in southeast Wisconsin took part in Operation Red Dragon. Tents were set up where victims were de-contaminated. Emergency rooms acted as receiving stations, where victims were sent to different units according to how severely they were hurt. And some of the victims were portrayed as deaf and autistic, as hospital personnel faced the challenge of getting everyone their proper care in a very short amount of time. Brigadier General James Cook said about three-thousand military personnel took part, along with hundreds of civilian personnel – 200 alone at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital. Jason Liu, an emergency doctor at Milwaukee’s Froedtert Hospital, said it was an exciting chance to learn from the Army. And Cook said his troops learned a lot from the civilian responders, too. It took about a year to plan the exercise. The Army chose Wisconsin because similar drills had been run at Fort McCoy near Sparta during the past four years.
Some Small Businesses Will Get Funds
6/18/09 - Some help is on the way for small businesses that are hurt by slow sales and tight credit – but they’ll have to act fast. Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton says only about 10-thousand of the nation’s 27-million small businesses will get special recovery loans the Small Business Administration made available this week. The loans cover up to 35-thousand-dollars in existing business loan and credit-card payments for up to six months. And the re-payments don’t begin for a year, which gives the businesses 18 months of breathing room. By then, Eric Ness of the S-B-A says an economic turnaround should be in bloom, in which shops can use rising sales revenue to pay back their loans. Just over a quarter-billion-dollars in loan money is being made available. There are no allocations for each state, and it’s all on a first-come, first-served basis.
State Suffers 4th “Swine Flu” Death
6/18/09 - Wisconsin now has four deaths from the H-1-N-1 swine flu. A school-aged child from Wausau died yesterday, after spending four days at a Marshfield hospital. Marathon County health officer Julie Willems Van Dijk said the child had an underlying medical problem that increased the risk of dying from the virus. Two children and two adults in Wisconsin have now died from swine flu. The other deaths were in Milwaukee, where the teenage victim was identified yesterday as 14-year-old Tiara Mosley – a freshman cheerleader at Milwaukee Madison High School. Her mother said Tiara collapsed at school a day after she felt better and left the hospital. She did not have the underlying medical conditions which are known to increase the flu risks. Richard Olds of the Medical College of Wisconsin says the H-1-N-1 virus appears to be killing more young people nationally than the normal winter flu strains – and fewer people above 65 appear to be dying. No one knows why. Wisconsin has about 35-hundred swine flu cases. Two-thirds of them are in Milwaukee County.
Unusual Bugs Popping Up Throughout Wisconsin
6/18/09 - It’s the season for unusual bugs in Wisconsin – and the D-N-R says the eastern tent caterpillar has made its presence felt. Experts say the insects create silk-type homes which look somewhat like cotton candy. They can damage trees, but the D-N-R says the effects don’t last very long. They suggest using soap-and-water and general insecticides to remove the caterpillars – which are often confused with the more damaging gypsy moths. But Andrea Diss-Torrance of the D-N-R says tent caterpillars make their own tents while gypsy moths don’t. They’ve been common lately in Dane County, as well as in Columbia, Green Lake, Adams, Marquette, Sauk, Waushara, Waupaca, Lincoln, and Ashland counties.
Stimulus Funds for Passenger Trains Could Be Headed to Wisconsin
6/18/09 - The Midwest appears to be one of the front-runners in the race to get eight-billion federal stimulus dollars for new high-speed passenger trains. Karen Rae, the deputy administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, says she’s not naming any favorites yet. But she praised Wisconsin and other Midwest states for their regional cooperation in a plan for trains that connect 12 major cities. And Rae had good words to say about California, where voters approved 10-billion-dollars in state bonding for a part of a high-speed rail network for the Golden State. Yesterday, the railroad administration issued guidelines to those who apply for the federal aid. Pre-applications must be filed by July 10th, and most of the final paperwork is due August 24th. The first grants will be issued in mid-September. Any region can apply, but the agency has narrowed down its main choices to 10 U-S corridors. That includes the Midwest region, which includes Governor Jim Doyle’s plan to add high-speed service from Milwaukee to Minnesota’s Twin Cities, with a possible northern spur to Green Bay.
6/18/09 - The 12th Annual WBEV/WXRO Children’s Radiothon is here with a full day of activities to benefit seven local charities. It all started with a live on-air auction this morning at 6 a.m., which will continue through 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. The 1st annual Noel’s Angel Walk started at 7 a.m. at Waterworks Park. John Kraft will be traveling around the county to seven different locations this morning as the organizations compete for the 2nd Annual DCS Cup. Other events include a rummage sale from 8 until 11 this morning here at the station, 100 Stoddart Street. We’ll also be hosting a dessert auction beginning at 9am through 11 in front of the studio. Later this morning their will be a Car Wash & Brat Fry at Tower Lanes starting at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then tonight we will have a street dance, also in front of the station. That begins at 6 p.m. and will include music, food, a guitar hero contest and more. Also starting at 6 p.m. will be the annual motorcycle ride. It will leave from John's Bar in Beaver Dam. There will be a stop at the American Legion Bar in Fox Lake and ending at the radio station at 8 p.m. The seven organizations benefiting from the Children’s Radiothon are P.A.V.E., The Parent Resource Place, Beaver Dam Teen Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Dodge County, Green Valley Enterprises, YMCA of Dodge County, and Clothes for Kids.
Senate Passes its Version of Budget
6/18/09 - The Wisconsin Senate passed a state budget last night that would pay for new roads by removing tax breaks on capital gains instead of raising the gas tax. It’s one of many changes Senate Democrats made to the budget passed by the Assembly last weekend. The vote was 17-to-16 to pass the two-year, 62-billion-dollar spending package. All 15 Republicans voted no, as expected. Jim Sullivan from Wauwatosa was the only Democrat to vote against the passage. The Senates budget also drops the special driving cards and in-state U-W tuition for illegal immigrants passed in the Assembly version. The budget still includes around two-billion-dollars in tax-and-fee hikes, plus spending cuts and federal stimulus funds aimed at covering a six-point-six billion dollar shortfall in revenues. A conference committee will now work out the differences between the two houses. And Governor Jim Doyle wants the panel to act quickly so the budget can take effect July first as scheduled.
Southeast Wisconsin Conduct Homeland Security Training Exercise
6/18/09 - It was the nation’s largest homeland security training exercise. Army Reservists joined local authorities and hospital personnel yesterday in testing their response to a major chemical attack. Ten hospitals in southeast Wisconsin took part in Operation Red Dragon. Tents were set up where victims were de-contaminated. Emergency rooms acted as receiving stations, where victims were sent to different units according to how severely they were hurt. And some of the victims were portrayed as deaf and autistic, as hospital personnel faced the challenge of getting everyone their proper care in a very short amount of time. Brigadier General James Cook said about three-thousand military personnel took part, along with hundreds of civilian personnel – 200 alone at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital. Jason Liu, an emergency doctor at Milwaukee’s Froedtert Hospital, said it was an exciting chance to learn from the Army. And Cook said his troops learned a lot from the civilian responders, too. It took about a year to plan the exercise. The Army chose Wisconsin because similar drills had been run at Fort McCoy near Sparta during the past four years.
Some Small Businesses Will Get Funds
6/18/09 - Some help is on the way for small businesses that are hurt by slow sales and tight credit – but they’ll have to act fast. Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton says only about 10-thousand of the nation’s 27-million small businesses will get special recovery loans the Small Business Administration made available this week. The loans cover up to 35-thousand-dollars in existing business loan and credit-card payments for up to six months. And the re-payments don’t begin for a year, which gives the businesses 18 months of breathing room. By then, Eric Ness of the S-B-A says an economic turnaround should be in bloom, in which shops can use rising sales revenue to pay back their loans. Just over a quarter-billion-dollars in loan money is being made available. There are no allocations for each state, and it’s all on a first-come, first-served basis.
State Suffers 4th “Swine Flu” Death
6/18/09 - Wisconsin now has four deaths from the H-1-N-1 swine flu. A school-aged child from Wausau died yesterday, after spending four days at a Marshfield hospital. Marathon County health officer Julie Willems Van Dijk said the child had an underlying medical problem that increased the risk of dying from the virus. Two children and two adults in Wisconsin have now died from swine flu. The other deaths were in Milwaukee, where the teenage victim was identified yesterday as 14-year-old Tiara Mosley – a freshman cheerleader at Milwaukee Madison High School. Her mother said Tiara collapsed at school a day after she felt better and left the hospital. She did not have the underlying medical conditions which are known to increase the flu risks. Richard Olds of the Medical College of Wisconsin says the H-1-N-1 virus appears to be killing more young people nationally than the normal winter flu strains – and fewer people above 65 appear to be dying. No one knows why. Wisconsin has about 35-hundred swine flu cases. Two-thirds of them are in Milwaukee County.
Unusual Bugs Popping Up Throughout Wisconsin
6/18/09 - It’s the season for unusual bugs in Wisconsin – and the D-N-R says the eastern tent caterpillar has made its presence felt. Experts say the insects create silk-type homes which look somewhat like cotton candy. They can damage trees, but the D-N-R says the effects don’t last very long. They suggest using soap-and-water and general insecticides to remove the caterpillars – which are often confused with the more damaging gypsy moths. But Andrea Diss-Torrance of the D-N-R says tent caterpillars make their own tents while gypsy moths don’t. They’ve been common lately in Dane County, as well as in Columbia, Green Lake, Adams, Marquette, Sauk, Waushara, Waupaca, Lincoln, and Ashland counties.
Stimulus Funds for Passenger Trains Could Be Headed to Wisconsin
6/18/09 - The Midwest appears to be one of the front-runners in the race to get eight-billion federal stimulus dollars for new high-speed passenger trains. Karen Rae, the deputy administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, says she’s not naming any favorites yet. But she praised Wisconsin and other Midwest states for their regional cooperation in a plan for trains that connect 12 major cities. And Rae had good words to say about California, where voters approved 10-billion-dollars in state bonding for a part of a high-speed rail network for the Golden State. Yesterday, the railroad administration issued guidelines to those who apply for the federal aid. Pre-applications must be filed by July 10th, and most of the final paperwork is due August 24th. The first grants will be issued in mid-September. Any region can apply, but the agency has narrowed down its main choices to 10 U-S corridors. That includes the Midwest region, which includes Governor Jim Doyle’s plan to add high-speed service from Milwaukee to Minnesota’s Twin Cities, with a possible northern spur to Green Bay.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Top Stories June 17th
DCB Seeks Clearview Upgrade Numbers
6/17/09 - The Dodge County Board approved a plan to price architectural services for a possible upgrade to Clearview. The unanimous vote followed a two-hour presentation by the Health Facilities Committee about the aging 279-bed long-term care and rehabilitation facility. Clearview South was built in 1949 and in addition to having major electrical problems does not have air conditioning. Clearview North was built in 1969 and has plumbing and roofing issues. A master plan prepared by Engberg Anderson of Milwaukee recommends the construction of a series of additions around a renovated north building and the eventual demolition of the south building. The ballpark cost is around $45 million. Committee Chair Larry Bischoff says the cost of a new facility could pay for itself when the price of maintaining the current facility is factored in. In addition, the county could provide more services that generate revenue and see additional savings from energy efficiencies and reduced administrative costs. The action last night directs the Health Facilities Committee to solicit proposals for architectural services, design specs and construction costs for new building construction and a combination of renovation and new building construction.
Benson Pleads No Contest in Fatal Accident
6/17/09 - Former surgeon Mark Benson pleaded no contest yesterday to causing a fatal crash that helped drive the state Legislature’s current debate over drunk driving laws. He faces up to 53 years in prison when he’s sentenced August 10th. Authorities said the 56-year-old Benson was high on prescription drugs – and not alcohol – when his car rear-ended another and killed three people in Oconomowoc 14 months ago. But Benson was under orders not to drive at the time, because he had just been sentenced for his third O-W-I conviction and had not reported to jail yet. The crash killed Oconomowoc High School administrator Jennifer Bukosky, her unborn child, and her 10-year-old daughter. Benson pleaded no contest to three counts of homicide by intoxication and two counts of causing injury by intoxication. Two other counts were dropped in the plea deal. Authorities said Benson was under the influence of a sleep aid and an anxiety medication at the time of the crash.
Nine of Ten Razed in BD
6/17/09 - Only one of the ten buildings targeted for demolition as part of the Beaver Dam downtown renovation project is still standing. Yesterday, demolition contractor Brandenburg Industries razed 205 and 211 Front Street. Crews should have the Celestial Building dismantled down to the first floor by Friday. Because Celestial shares two common walls with businesses that will not be coming down, demolition workers must exercise more caution. The century-old buildings were targeted for demolition after it was learned that they violate modern state statutes governing buildings constructed over waterways. Meanwhile, work continues to remove the culverts in the Tower Parking lot. Asphalt is being cut and removed this week and the east culvert could be out by the end of the week.
Davis Enters “Mental Defect” Plea in Claw Hammer Incident
6/17/09 - A former Fox Lake Correctional Institution inmate who allegedly attacked two guards with a claw-hammer entered a plea of “not guilty by mental defect” during an arraignment hearing yesterday in Dodge County court. 50-year-old Terrance Davis is charged with two counts of attempted murder for allegedly assaulting the guards in the prison’s furniture-making shop last November. A 52-year-old officer sustained head injuries and a broken arm and a 38-year-old guard required surgery for a fractured skull. Davis has been in prison since he killed two Milwaukee police officers 23 years ago when the officers walked into a drug deal. Davis faces up to 40 years in prison on each count. Judge Andrew Bissonnette ordered an evaluation and a scheduling conference is scheduled for August.
Ordonez Pleads Not Guilty
6/17/09 - A Beaver Dam man entered a “not guilty” plea yesterday to charges that he impregnated a 14-year-old girl. 22-year-old Cristobel Ordonez is charged with Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Child in connection with a two-year relationship he had with the girl. Ordonez faces 40 years in prison.
FDL Man in Court on Child Enticement Charge
6/17/09 - A Fond du Lac man, charged with molesting a 16-year-old girl at a Beaver Dam motel, entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment yesterday. 34-year-old Roderick Lentz is charged with a felony county of Child Enticement and two misdemeanors related to the series of incidents that occurred in early January. Because Lentz has a previous conviction for Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Child, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole, if convicted. Lentz is being held on a $25,000 cash bail and has court activity scheduled next month.
3rd Swine Flu Death Reported in Milwaukee
6/17/09 - A Wisconsin medical expert says public health agencies will have to change their approach, now that a child has died from swine flu. An adolescent from Milwaukee died on Monday. Officials did not release the person’s age or gender, but they did say the child had none of the underlying medical conditions that often put people at risk for the flu. It’s Wisconsin’s third swine flu death, and all of them were from Milwaukee. Richard Olds, the chairman of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, says it’s scary that somebody so young died from influenza. He says the H-1-N-1 virus is attacking a different segment of Americans, and health care workers must act faster to test patients and give them anti-viral medicines. Olds says many who’ve died from the new flu strain probably didn’t get anti-viral drugs until their diseases had deeply progressed. And he says hospitals must get their flu tests processed within 24 hours. Wisconsin had just over 34-hundred confirmed swine flu cases as of yesterday. About 21-hundred of them are in Milwaukee. It was declared a pandemic last week, but the public’s concern appears to be getting smaller because death rates have been relatively low compared to other flu strains during a normal winter.
Senate to Take Up Budget Today
6/17/09 - Wisconsin senators are scheduled to begin debate this afternoon on their version of the new state budget. Majority Democrats have spent the last two days in closed-door meetings to decide what they plan to pass. Their changes have not been disclosed. But Majority Leader Russ Decker has said he wanted to restore the legal liability reform and budget cuts for the Justice Department which the Assembly took out of the package last week. And he wanted to make oil companies help pay for new-and-improved roads, by imposing an oil profits’ tax that cannot be passed onto consumers. But many lawmakers question the legality of that tax. The Assembly agreed to let the companies pass on four-cents-a-gallon, to avoid the expense of a possible industry lawsuit. Meanwhile, minority Republicans say they’ll propose an amendment today to drop 179 pork-and-policy items from the budget. They include things like the benefit registry for domestic partners, and improvements to Milwaukee’s Bradley Center. La Crosse Republican Dan Kapanke says some of those things may be needed – but they shouldn’t be buried and sneaked through in the 62-billion-dollar budget. Also, the mayors of Appleton and Madison lobbied yesterday for the Senate to keep their proposed regional transit authorities in the budget. Those authorities would be allowed to charge their own sales taxes to pay for regional buses. The Assembly approved them for Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, and the Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls area.
Radiothon Begins Tomorrow
6/17/09 - The 12th Annual WBEV-WXRO Children’s Radiothon begins at 6am tomorrow morning and we’re pleased to announce a special new addition this year. Scott and Lori Smith of Beaver Dam have established Noel’s Angel Walk in honor of their one-year-old daughter who passed away in March of last year. The Smith’s say the fundraising walk is their way of giving back to a community that rallied around them in the hour of their deepest need. Registration for Noel’s Angel Walk begins at 6am tomorrow with the walk starting at 7am, beginning and ending at Waterworks Park. All the proceeds will benefit the seven organizations that are part of the Children’s Radiothon. News Director Craig Warmbold is walking tomorrow and he is accepting sponsorships, 885-4442 x127.
6/17/09 - The Dodge County Board approved a plan to price architectural services for a possible upgrade to Clearview. The unanimous vote followed a two-hour presentation by the Health Facilities Committee about the aging 279-bed long-term care and rehabilitation facility. Clearview South was built in 1949 and in addition to having major electrical problems does not have air conditioning. Clearview North was built in 1969 and has plumbing and roofing issues. A master plan prepared by Engberg Anderson of Milwaukee recommends the construction of a series of additions around a renovated north building and the eventual demolition of the south building. The ballpark cost is around $45 million. Committee Chair Larry Bischoff says the cost of a new facility could pay for itself when the price of maintaining the current facility is factored in. In addition, the county could provide more services that generate revenue and see additional savings from energy efficiencies and reduced administrative costs. The action last night directs the Health Facilities Committee to solicit proposals for architectural services, design specs and construction costs for new building construction and a combination of renovation and new building construction.
Benson Pleads No Contest in Fatal Accident
6/17/09 - Former surgeon Mark Benson pleaded no contest yesterday to causing a fatal crash that helped drive the state Legislature’s current debate over drunk driving laws. He faces up to 53 years in prison when he’s sentenced August 10th. Authorities said the 56-year-old Benson was high on prescription drugs – and not alcohol – when his car rear-ended another and killed three people in Oconomowoc 14 months ago. But Benson was under orders not to drive at the time, because he had just been sentenced for his third O-W-I conviction and had not reported to jail yet. The crash killed Oconomowoc High School administrator Jennifer Bukosky, her unborn child, and her 10-year-old daughter. Benson pleaded no contest to three counts of homicide by intoxication and two counts of causing injury by intoxication. Two other counts were dropped in the plea deal. Authorities said Benson was under the influence of a sleep aid and an anxiety medication at the time of the crash.
Nine of Ten Razed in BD
6/17/09 - Only one of the ten buildings targeted for demolition as part of the Beaver Dam downtown renovation project is still standing. Yesterday, demolition contractor Brandenburg Industries razed 205 and 211 Front Street. Crews should have the Celestial Building dismantled down to the first floor by Friday. Because Celestial shares two common walls with businesses that will not be coming down, demolition workers must exercise more caution. The century-old buildings were targeted for demolition after it was learned that they violate modern state statutes governing buildings constructed over waterways. Meanwhile, work continues to remove the culverts in the Tower Parking lot. Asphalt is being cut and removed this week and the east culvert could be out by the end of the week.
Davis Enters “Mental Defect” Plea in Claw Hammer Incident
6/17/09 - A former Fox Lake Correctional Institution inmate who allegedly attacked two guards with a claw-hammer entered a plea of “not guilty by mental defect” during an arraignment hearing yesterday in Dodge County court. 50-year-old Terrance Davis is charged with two counts of attempted murder for allegedly assaulting the guards in the prison’s furniture-making shop last November. A 52-year-old officer sustained head injuries and a broken arm and a 38-year-old guard required surgery for a fractured skull. Davis has been in prison since he killed two Milwaukee police officers 23 years ago when the officers walked into a drug deal. Davis faces up to 40 years in prison on each count. Judge Andrew Bissonnette ordered an evaluation and a scheduling conference is scheduled for August.
Ordonez Pleads Not Guilty
6/17/09 - A Beaver Dam man entered a “not guilty” plea yesterday to charges that he impregnated a 14-year-old girl. 22-year-old Cristobel Ordonez is charged with Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Child in connection with a two-year relationship he had with the girl. Ordonez faces 40 years in prison.
FDL Man in Court on Child Enticement Charge
6/17/09 - A Fond du Lac man, charged with molesting a 16-year-old girl at a Beaver Dam motel, entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment yesterday. 34-year-old Roderick Lentz is charged with a felony county of Child Enticement and two misdemeanors related to the series of incidents that occurred in early January. Because Lentz has a previous conviction for Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Child, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole, if convicted. Lentz is being held on a $25,000 cash bail and has court activity scheduled next month.
3rd Swine Flu Death Reported in Milwaukee
6/17/09 - A Wisconsin medical expert says public health agencies will have to change their approach, now that a child has died from swine flu. An adolescent from Milwaukee died on Monday. Officials did not release the person’s age or gender, but they did say the child had none of the underlying medical conditions that often put people at risk for the flu. It’s Wisconsin’s third swine flu death, and all of them were from Milwaukee. Richard Olds, the chairman of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, says it’s scary that somebody so young died from influenza. He says the H-1-N-1 virus is attacking a different segment of Americans, and health care workers must act faster to test patients and give them anti-viral medicines. Olds says many who’ve died from the new flu strain probably didn’t get anti-viral drugs until their diseases had deeply progressed. And he says hospitals must get their flu tests processed within 24 hours. Wisconsin had just over 34-hundred confirmed swine flu cases as of yesterday. About 21-hundred of them are in Milwaukee. It was declared a pandemic last week, but the public’s concern appears to be getting smaller because death rates have been relatively low compared to other flu strains during a normal winter.
Senate to Take Up Budget Today
6/17/09 - Wisconsin senators are scheduled to begin debate this afternoon on their version of the new state budget. Majority Democrats have spent the last two days in closed-door meetings to decide what they plan to pass. Their changes have not been disclosed. But Majority Leader Russ Decker has said he wanted to restore the legal liability reform and budget cuts for the Justice Department which the Assembly took out of the package last week. And he wanted to make oil companies help pay for new-and-improved roads, by imposing an oil profits’ tax that cannot be passed onto consumers. But many lawmakers question the legality of that tax. The Assembly agreed to let the companies pass on four-cents-a-gallon, to avoid the expense of a possible industry lawsuit. Meanwhile, minority Republicans say they’ll propose an amendment today to drop 179 pork-and-policy items from the budget. They include things like the benefit registry for domestic partners, and improvements to Milwaukee’s Bradley Center. La Crosse Republican Dan Kapanke says some of those things may be needed – but they shouldn’t be buried and sneaked through in the 62-billion-dollar budget. Also, the mayors of Appleton and Madison lobbied yesterday for the Senate to keep their proposed regional transit authorities in the budget. Those authorities would be allowed to charge their own sales taxes to pay for regional buses. The Assembly approved them for Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, and the Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls area.
Radiothon Begins Tomorrow
6/17/09 - The 12th Annual WBEV-WXRO Children’s Radiothon begins at 6am tomorrow morning and we’re pleased to announce a special new addition this year. Scott and Lori Smith of Beaver Dam have established Noel’s Angel Walk in honor of their one-year-old daughter who passed away in March of last year. The Smith’s say the fundraising walk is their way of giving back to a community that rallied around them in the hour of their deepest need. Registration for Noel’s Angel Walk begins at 6am tomorrow with the walk starting at 7am, beginning and ending at Waterworks Park. All the proceeds will benefit the seven organizations that are part of the Children’s Radiothon. News Director Craig Warmbold is walking tomorrow and he is accepting sponsorships, 885-4442 x127.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Top Stories June 16th
Demerit Point System Established in Beaver Dam
6/16/09 - Taverns in the city of Beaver Dam are now governed by a demerit point system. The ordinance was voted down in May but was reintroduced earlier this month and approved by a 8 to 5 vote last night. In voting against the plan, Alderman Laine Meyer said the points were too strict, making it too easy to pull somebody’s livelihood away from them. Alderman Don Neuert, who chaired the ad hoc committee that drafted the ordinance, says its vital the police department and the city have a tool by which to measure problems with local taverns. Under the plan, demerits could be given to bars for such violations as serving minors, excessive noise or failing to notify the police of a fight. Taverns in violation could have their license suspended or revoked.
Weyco Closing Extended
6/16/09 - The closing date for the sale of the former Weyco Shoe Factory property has been extended. Wisconsin Redevelopment sought the extension as they await the sale of low-income tax-credits to potential investors to cover the costs of the $9 to $10 million dollar project. The company is seeking renovate the structure into loft-style apartments and extended its option to purchase the building from the city by paying another $5000 non-refundable fee. The closing date is now August 31.
YMCA Purchase Update
6/16/09 - The city of Beaver Dam his hoping to close on the purchase of the former YMCA property by July 31. The city approved a counter-offer in a special meeting last Monday that was accepted by the YMCA Board later in the week. In an update to the Common Council last night, Mayor Tom Kennedy said he will be meeting next week with the Operations Committee chair and MSA Professionals to evaluate various options for developing the site.
Koehn Addresses Staff Shortages With Columbus PFC
6/16/09 - Newly appointed Columbus Fire Chief Randy Koehn said that one of the first things he would do is recruit new firefighters to fill the current vacancies in the Department. He also told the PFC he hoped to get the firefighters trained as soon as possible. Since Columbus has been without a Chief for over two years the former 40 person Department roster has dropped to 34. Koehn said that he would like to fill the Department roster with enough trained on-call firefighters to ensure full response crews at all hours.
Dodge County Fatal IDed
6/16/09 - The name of the person killed in a one-vehicle accident near Brownsville Sunday morning has been released. According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, Jeffrey L. Strub of Sparta, Missouri was driving a pick-up truck that was pulling an enclosed trailer on State Highway 49 when he failed to negotiate a curve and rolled the vehicle down and embankment and it caught fire. The 45-year-old was unable to get out of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dodge County Medical Examiner.
Oconomowoc Man Identified in Motorcycle Fatality
6/16/09 - Washington County authorities have released the name of the 25-year-old Oconomowoc man killed in a motorcycle accident on County Highway E Sunday afternoon. Kenneth Christenson was taken to a hospital in Hartford after his bike failed to negotiate a curve. He died there. Sheriff's officials say speed was a factor in the accident.
Milwaukee Man Charged In Fatal FDL County Motorcycle Accident
6/16/09 - Last month's fatal motorcycle crash that led to the death of a 31-year-old West Allis woman in the Campbellsport area has resulted in homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle charges for the driver of the bike. Thirty-two year old Jay Taylor of Milwaukee was charged in Fond du Lac County Court Monday. One of the charges is for having a prohibited alcohol content. According to the criminal complaint Taylor's blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit when the motorcycle went off Highway 67. Both Taylor and his girlfriend Crystal Daly were thrown from the bike. She was killed after hitting a utility pole. Taylor told investigators he'd had five or six beers. His bond is set at $25,000 cash and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, June 25th. (KFIZ)
Drive By Shooting Suspect Charged
6/16/09 - Bail has been set at $100,000 cash for a 20-year-old Fond du Lac man who fired at a group of people during a drive-by shooting at the Calumet Apartments last Wednesday afternoon. According to the criminal complaint Terrence Whitaker was in the back passenger seat in a car that went by the apartments. Witnesses say they saw a black man with a gun point it at a group of people and yell, "Shorty get down." "Shorty" is the nickname for one of those who were in the group. Five shots were fired; three hit a car that a man, a woman, and two children ages 2 and 5 years old were in. The Waupun woman driving the car told investigators she did not know Whitaker planned to shoot at anyone when he asked her to drive towards the apartments. She said and a passenger, another Waupun woman yelled at him to get out of the car a short distance from the shooting. Whitaker took off on foot after that. Police arrested him the following evening. No one was hurt in the shooting incident. Whitaker is charged with 9 counts of 1st degree reckless endangerment by use of a dangerous weapon and 5 counts of discharging firearms from a vehicle towards a building or vehicle. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 25th. (KFIZ)
Sprague Sentenced in BD Break-Ins
6/16/09 - A Beaver Dam man will spend three and-a-half years in prison for a pair of burglaries in Beaver Dam last fall and a handful of other charges. Bradley Sprague pleaded “no contest” in March to felony Theft and Misappropriating ID Information and had several other counts dismissed but read into the record. In December, a Horicon police officer pulled a vehicle over for a traffic violation. The officer noted the car matched the description of a suspect’s vehicle in several Beaver Dam area burglaries. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed two guns, stereo equipment and ammunition that had recently been stolen from a residence in Beaver Dam. Authorities say Sprague was hiding the guns until a buyer could be found. In addition to serving three and-a-half years in prison, the 26-year-old was ordered to serve four and-a-half years of extended supervision. Sprague was also placed on probation for three years and is required to pay nearly $700 in restitution on the identity theft charges.
Three Teens Apprehended For Recent Burglaries
6/16/09 - Three teens were apprehended early Monday morning following a burglary at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel building in Beaver Dam. Chief Dale Boldt says officers responded to the newspaper warehouse at 200 Stoddart Street around 2:30am. After entry was gained to the building, a soda machine was broken into near the point of entry. A short time later, three Beaver Dam teens were taken into custody in the connection with the incident. Authorities arrested one 18-year-old male on charges of Burglary, Possession of Burglary Tools, Criminal Damage To Property and Entry Into A Locked Coin Box. Another 18-year-old male was arrested on charges of Party to a Crime of Burglary, felony Bail Jumping and drug possession charges. A 17-year-old male was arrested on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. All three were transported to the Dodge County Detention Facility. Boldt says the investigation continues into other recent burglaries in the city and more arrests are expected.
Weekend Burglaries in BD
6/16/09 - Three other break-ins were reported this weekend in Beaver Dam. On Friday, the Snack Shack at the Athletic Field was targeted for the second time this year. Parks officials tell us they will be installing a surveillance system. On Saturday morning, a burglary was reported at Expedition Supply on the 100 Block of South Center Street and several unidentified items were stolen. Also Saturday morning, there was a report of a garage break-in on the 200 block of Walnut; a GPS unit was taken. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the beaver Dam Police Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.
YMCA Triathlon Kicks Off Modes
6/16/09 - The YMCA of Dodge County is gearing up for their big fundraising event this weekend. The first annual Modes of Transportation will feature every mode of transportation imaginable, including helicopters, hot air balloons, the Original Wisconsin Ducks, the Oscar Meier Weiner-Mobile, fire trucks, ambulances and even golf carts. Another big part of the event is their triathlon, which kicks off the festivities Saturday morning with a serpentine swim, seven-mile bike ride and one-mile run. The event this year honors two long-time YMCA members: Bill Hollihan and David Brandenburg, both of whom were very involved in competitive events. Registration forms for the triathlon are available at the YMCA on Corporate Drive in Beaver Dam or on-line at www.ymcaofdodgecounty.org. Officials with the Y will be our guests on WBEV’s Community Comment this afternoon (Tue) beginning at 12:35pm. In our second segment, we’ll get all the details on this year’s Rock ‘n River Jam in Horicon.
6/16/09 - Taverns in the city of Beaver Dam are now governed by a demerit point system. The ordinance was voted down in May but was reintroduced earlier this month and approved by a 8 to 5 vote last night. In voting against the plan, Alderman Laine Meyer said the points were too strict, making it too easy to pull somebody’s livelihood away from them. Alderman Don Neuert, who chaired the ad hoc committee that drafted the ordinance, says its vital the police department and the city have a tool by which to measure problems with local taverns. Under the plan, demerits could be given to bars for such violations as serving minors, excessive noise or failing to notify the police of a fight. Taverns in violation could have their license suspended or revoked.
Weyco Closing Extended
6/16/09 - The closing date for the sale of the former Weyco Shoe Factory property has been extended. Wisconsin Redevelopment sought the extension as they await the sale of low-income tax-credits to potential investors to cover the costs of the $9 to $10 million dollar project. The company is seeking renovate the structure into loft-style apartments and extended its option to purchase the building from the city by paying another $5000 non-refundable fee. The closing date is now August 31.
YMCA Purchase Update
6/16/09 - The city of Beaver Dam his hoping to close on the purchase of the former YMCA property by July 31. The city approved a counter-offer in a special meeting last Monday that was accepted by the YMCA Board later in the week. In an update to the Common Council last night, Mayor Tom Kennedy said he will be meeting next week with the Operations Committee chair and MSA Professionals to evaluate various options for developing the site.
Koehn Addresses Staff Shortages With Columbus PFC
6/16/09 - Newly appointed Columbus Fire Chief Randy Koehn said that one of the first things he would do is recruit new firefighters to fill the current vacancies in the Department. He also told the PFC he hoped to get the firefighters trained as soon as possible. Since Columbus has been without a Chief for over two years the former 40 person Department roster has dropped to 34. Koehn said that he would like to fill the Department roster with enough trained on-call firefighters to ensure full response crews at all hours.
Dodge County Fatal IDed
6/16/09 - The name of the person killed in a one-vehicle accident near Brownsville Sunday morning has been released. According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, Jeffrey L. Strub of Sparta, Missouri was driving a pick-up truck that was pulling an enclosed trailer on State Highway 49 when he failed to negotiate a curve and rolled the vehicle down and embankment and it caught fire. The 45-year-old was unable to get out of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dodge County Medical Examiner.
Oconomowoc Man Identified in Motorcycle Fatality
6/16/09 - Washington County authorities have released the name of the 25-year-old Oconomowoc man killed in a motorcycle accident on County Highway E Sunday afternoon. Kenneth Christenson was taken to a hospital in Hartford after his bike failed to negotiate a curve. He died there. Sheriff's officials say speed was a factor in the accident.
Milwaukee Man Charged In Fatal FDL County Motorcycle Accident
6/16/09 - Last month's fatal motorcycle crash that led to the death of a 31-year-old West Allis woman in the Campbellsport area has resulted in homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle charges for the driver of the bike. Thirty-two year old Jay Taylor of Milwaukee was charged in Fond du Lac County Court Monday. One of the charges is for having a prohibited alcohol content. According to the criminal complaint Taylor's blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit when the motorcycle went off Highway 67. Both Taylor and his girlfriend Crystal Daly were thrown from the bike. She was killed after hitting a utility pole. Taylor told investigators he'd had five or six beers. His bond is set at $25,000 cash and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, June 25th. (KFIZ)
Drive By Shooting Suspect Charged
6/16/09 - Bail has been set at $100,000 cash for a 20-year-old Fond du Lac man who fired at a group of people during a drive-by shooting at the Calumet Apartments last Wednesday afternoon. According to the criminal complaint Terrence Whitaker was in the back passenger seat in a car that went by the apartments. Witnesses say they saw a black man with a gun point it at a group of people and yell, "Shorty get down." "Shorty" is the nickname for one of those who were in the group. Five shots were fired; three hit a car that a man, a woman, and two children ages 2 and 5 years old were in. The Waupun woman driving the car told investigators she did not know Whitaker planned to shoot at anyone when he asked her to drive towards the apartments. She said and a passenger, another Waupun woman yelled at him to get out of the car a short distance from the shooting. Whitaker took off on foot after that. Police arrested him the following evening. No one was hurt in the shooting incident. Whitaker is charged with 9 counts of 1st degree reckless endangerment by use of a dangerous weapon and 5 counts of discharging firearms from a vehicle towards a building or vehicle. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 25th. (KFIZ)
Sprague Sentenced in BD Break-Ins
6/16/09 - A Beaver Dam man will spend three and-a-half years in prison for a pair of burglaries in Beaver Dam last fall and a handful of other charges. Bradley Sprague pleaded “no contest” in March to felony Theft and Misappropriating ID Information and had several other counts dismissed but read into the record. In December, a Horicon police officer pulled a vehicle over for a traffic violation. The officer noted the car matched the description of a suspect’s vehicle in several Beaver Dam area burglaries. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed two guns, stereo equipment and ammunition that had recently been stolen from a residence in Beaver Dam. Authorities say Sprague was hiding the guns until a buyer could be found. In addition to serving three and-a-half years in prison, the 26-year-old was ordered to serve four and-a-half years of extended supervision. Sprague was also placed on probation for three years and is required to pay nearly $700 in restitution on the identity theft charges.
Three Teens Apprehended For Recent Burglaries
6/16/09 - Three teens were apprehended early Monday morning following a burglary at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel building in Beaver Dam. Chief Dale Boldt says officers responded to the newspaper warehouse at 200 Stoddart Street around 2:30am. After entry was gained to the building, a soda machine was broken into near the point of entry. A short time later, three Beaver Dam teens were taken into custody in the connection with the incident. Authorities arrested one 18-year-old male on charges of Burglary, Possession of Burglary Tools, Criminal Damage To Property and Entry Into A Locked Coin Box. Another 18-year-old male was arrested on charges of Party to a Crime of Burglary, felony Bail Jumping and drug possession charges. A 17-year-old male was arrested on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. All three were transported to the Dodge County Detention Facility. Boldt says the investigation continues into other recent burglaries in the city and more arrests are expected.
Weekend Burglaries in BD
6/16/09 - Three other break-ins were reported this weekend in Beaver Dam. On Friday, the Snack Shack at the Athletic Field was targeted for the second time this year. Parks officials tell us they will be installing a surveillance system. On Saturday morning, a burglary was reported at Expedition Supply on the 100 Block of South Center Street and several unidentified items were stolen. Also Saturday morning, there was a report of a garage break-in on the 200 block of Walnut; a GPS unit was taken. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the beaver Dam Police Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.
YMCA Triathlon Kicks Off Modes
6/16/09 - The YMCA of Dodge County is gearing up for their big fundraising event this weekend. The first annual Modes of Transportation will feature every mode of transportation imaginable, including helicopters, hot air balloons, the Original Wisconsin Ducks, the Oscar Meier Weiner-Mobile, fire trucks, ambulances and even golf carts. Another big part of the event is their triathlon, which kicks off the festivities Saturday morning with a serpentine swim, seven-mile bike ride and one-mile run. The event this year honors two long-time YMCA members: Bill Hollihan and David Brandenburg, both of whom were very involved in competitive events. Registration forms for the triathlon are available at the YMCA on Corporate Drive in Beaver Dam or on-line at www.ymcaofdodgecounty.org. Officials with the Y will be our guests on WBEV’s Community Comment this afternoon (Tue) beginning at 12:35pm. In our second segment, we’ll get all the details on this year’s Rock ‘n River Jam in Horicon.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Top Stories, June 15th
Four Dead in Traffic Accidents in Southeast Wisconsin
6/15/09 - Authorities say they will wait until an autopsy is conducted later today before releasing the name of the person killed in a one-car accident near Brownsville Sunday morning. According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, the 45-year-old driver was driving a pick-up truck that was pulling an enclosed trailer on State Highway 49 when he failed to negotiate a curve, struck a guardrail, then rolled down the embankment and caught fire. He was unable to get out of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dodge County Medical Examiner. The wreck occurred at 2:15am.
6/15/09 - A 25-year-old man was killed just southeast of Hartford Sunday afternoon after losing control of his motorcycle while going around a curve. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department says the man from Stone Bank was traveling west on Highway E near Rolaine Parkway with four other riders when the crashed occurred around 2:30pm. The investigation into the accident continues but speed is believed to a factor. The man’s name was not immediately released.
6/15/09 - Two people on a motorcycle died last night when their bike collided with a vehicle in the Waukesha County town of Vernon. Authorities said both bikers were not wearing helmets, and both died at the scene. Other details were not immediately available about the crash – which happened just after 7:45 last night.
Several Motor Vehicle Injuries Reported in Region
6/15/09 - Two injuries were reported after a motorcycle struck a stopped vehicle near Watertown Sunday evening. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, 54-year-old Debra Pritchard of Ixonia was at a stop sign on Highway 16, waiting to make a left-hand turn onto Hustisford Road, when she was struck by the motorcycle. A 41-year-old male from Johnson Creek was driving the motorcycle and was transported to Watertown Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. His passenger, a 30-year-old female from Johnson Creek, was transported to Froedtert Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Pritchard was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured. Authorities are investigating.
6/15/09 - Two men were injured in separate accidents on Dodge County roadways early Sunday morning. 22-year-old Jeremiah Meyer was transported to the hospital following an accident on Highway 175 in the Town of Theresa Sunday morning at 2:20am. A few minutes later in the Town of Lowell, 29-year-old Brian J. Kelm was transported to the hospital after going through a stop sign on Highway 60 and striking a tree.
6/15/09 - Traffic on the Interstate south of Madison was tied for up two hours late Sunday, after a pair of crashes in the southbound lanes. Several people were hurt, and a 67-year-old woman had life-threatening injuries.
Culvert Removal Begins
6/15/09 - Removal of the culverts in the Tower Parking begins today as Beaver Dam’s downtown redevelopment and demolition project enters its fourth week. Crews will be cutting asphalt in the parking throughout the week. The river flow will be blocked to the east culvert on Friday so that it can be removed. Meanwhile, demolition continues on three remaining buildings on the 200 block of Front Street. The Celestial Building will be the last to fall, sometime on or around June 26. It should be dismantled down to the first floor by this Friday. The city will install a new metal cap on the shared wall between Celestial and the Fountain Inn Tavern. Owner Jay Hoeft has selected the color and approved the detail. The other two buildings should be completely down by the end of the week as well, though it will be the end of the month before the rubble is removed.
Council Considers Weyco Extension / Demerit Point System
6/15/09 - The Beaver Dam Common Council tonight will consider an extension of the closing date for the sale of the former Weyco Shoe Factory property. Wisconsin Redevelopment is seeking renovate the structure into loft-style apartments and will pay another $5000 to move the closing date to August 31 from May 31. The move was already approved by the Community Development Committee. Under the terms of the purchase, the developer would have to incur $1 million in construction costs by the end of next year or they’d lose a quarter million dollars. Wisconsin Redevelopment Vice President Todd Hutchison says the downturn in the economy has made it difficult for him to sell his recently-acquired low-income tax-credits to investors. Hutchison says he really wants to work with the city, but he can’t afford to risk pushing that kind of deadline so the additional $5000 is an insurance policy for a worst-case scenario. Hutchison says his company remains optimistic about the Beaver Dam project. The council tonight will also consider a demerit point system for local taverns, which was re-introduced at the last council meeting after being defeated last month. The Common Council meets at 8pm tonight at city hall.
Legislators Personal Wealth Declines by Millions
6/15/09 - Wisconsin’s richest member of the U-S House lost over 20-percent of his net worth in the last year. Menomonee Falls Republican Jim Sensenbrenner was worth eight-point-nine million dollars on March 31st. He lost almost two-and-a-half million dollars in the past 12 months, mainly due to declines in the stock market. Sensenbrenner, an heir to the Kimberly-Clark fortune, puts a detailed record of his assets and liabilities in the Congressional Record. He says he believes in full disclosure. But members are only required to list broad ranges for their total annual income and net worth. And while the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel gets a little more detail from Wisconsin’s delegation, only Senate Democrat Russ Feingold and House Democrat Tammy Baldwin of Madison supplied all the information the paper asked for. Feingold is worth 386-thousand dollars, one of the lowest among Wisconsin’s Capitol Hill lawmakers. House Democrat Gwen Moore of Milwaukee and Wausau Democrat David Obey also reported assets in the low six-figure ranges. Baldwin’s net worth is around one-point-one million dollars, down from one-point-four million last year. Fond du Lac House Republican Tom Petri is worth around eight-million. Senate Democrat Herb Kohl, one of the richest members of Congress, is estimated to own assets of around 110-million dollars. His annual income fell from 11-point-eight-million dollars to four-point-nine million during the year ending in March.
Dem’s Tab Lawton As Doyle Successor
6/15/09 - Wisconsin Democrats want Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton to be their party's nominee for governor next year, if Jim Doyle does not seek a third term. Wis-Politics-Dot-Com took their usual straw poll at the State Democratic Convention this past weekend in Green Bay. Eighty-two delegates preferred Lawton if Doyle steps down. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was the choice of 33 delegates, followed by Senator Jon Erpenbach of Waunakee and Congressman Ron Kind of La Crosse. Convention delegates were also asked which G-O-P candidate was more beatable for governor next year. 124 of them said it was Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, while 90 said former Congressman Mark Neumann was the easier challenger. Among other things, the convention unveiled a Democratic Internet ad that slammed both Walker and Neumann. That was one of the projects from U-W Madison student Sam Roecker, the state Democrats' first media intern. He's showing the party how to use You-Tube, Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of so-called "new media" to their advantage.
Ho-Chunk Wants Cigarette Tax Cash
6/15/09 - The Ho-Chunk Indian tribe is expected to find out tomorrow whether it can get thousands-of-dollars in refunds on cigarette taxes. The State Supreme Court will decide if the tribe is eligible for a refund based on cigarette sales at its DeJope bingo hall and casino in Madison for parts of 2003-and-’04. The tribe says the state must pay the refunds on 70-percent of cigarette taxes collected on lands that were designed as Indian property before 1983. The Ho-Chunk also said the law was ambiguous, and that’s another reason it should get the money. A state appeals court ruled last year that the DeJope Casino was not an Indian property until ’83, so the Ho-Chunk is not entitled to the tax refunds.
Goodwill Accepting Computers
6/15/09 - Goodwill has not accepted donations of computer equipment – until now. Many of Wisconsin’s Goodwill centers have just started taking used computers and related equipment in a partnership with Dell’s Re-connect recycling program. Maureen Roche of Goodwill Industries in south central Wisconsin says its stores will take any brand of computer in any condition, and it’s an ongoing program instead of something that’s done just once a year. Roche says donors can get receipts for tax purposes – and if they donate software, they’re asked to include the software licenses.
6/15/09 - Authorities say they will wait until an autopsy is conducted later today before releasing the name of the person killed in a one-car accident near Brownsville Sunday morning. According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, the 45-year-old driver was driving a pick-up truck that was pulling an enclosed trailer on State Highway 49 when he failed to negotiate a curve, struck a guardrail, then rolled down the embankment and caught fire. He was unable to get out of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dodge County Medical Examiner. The wreck occurred at 2:15am.
6/15/09 - A 25-year-old man was killed just southeast of Hartford Sunday afternoon after losing control of his motorcycle while going around a curve. The Washington County Sheriff’s Department says the man from Stone Bank was traveling west on Highway E near Rolaine Parkway with four other riders when the crashed occurred around 2:30pm. The investigation into the accident continues but speed is believed to a factor. The man’s name was not immediately released.
6/15/09 - Two people on a motorcycle died last night when their bike collided with a vehicle in the Waukesha County town of Vernon. Authorities said both bikers were not wearing helmets, and both died at the scene. Other details were not immediately available about the crash – which happened just after 7:45 last night.
Several Motor Vehicle Injuries Reported in Region
6/15/09 - Two injuries were reported after a motorcycle struck a stopped vehicle near Watertown Sunday evening. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, 54-year-old Debra Pritchard of Ixonia was at a stop sign on Highway 16, waiting to make a left-hand turn onto Hustisford Road, when she was struck by the motorcycle. A 41-year-old male from Johnson Creek was driving the motorcycle and was transported to Watertown Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. His passenger, a 30-year-old female from Johnson Creek, was transported to Froedtert Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Pritchard was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured. Authorities are investigating.
6/15/09 - Two men were injured in separate accidents on Dodge County roadways early Sunday morning. 22-year-old Jeremiah Meyer was transported to the hospital following an accident on Highway 175 in the Town of Theresa Sunday morning at 2:20am. A few minutes later in the Town of Lowell, 29-year-old Brian J. Kelm was transported to the hospital after going through a stop sign on Highway 60 and striking a tree.
6/15/09 - Traffic on the Interstate south of Madison was tied for up two hours late Sunday, after a pair of crashes in the southbound lanes. Several people were hurt, and a 67-year-old woman had life-threatening injuries.
Culvert Removal Begins
6/15/09 - Removal of the culverts in the Tower Parking begins today as Beaver Dam’s downtown redevelopment and demolition project enters its fourth week. Crews will be cutting asphalt in the parking throughout the week. The river flow will be blocked to the east culvert on Friday so that it can be removed. Meanwhile, demolition continues on three remaining buildings on the 200 block of Front Street. The Celestial Building will be the last to fall, sometime on or around June 26. It should be dismantled down to the first floor by this Friday. The city will install a new metal cap on the shared wall between Celestial and the Fountain Inn Tavern. Owner Jay Hoeft has selected the color and approved the detail. The other two buildings should be completely down by the end of the week as well, though it will be the end of the month before the rubble is removed.
Council Considers Weyco Extension / Demerit Point System
6/15/09 - The Beaver Dam Common Council tonight will consider an extension of the closing date for the sale of the former Weyco Shoe Factory property. Wisconsin Redevelopment is seeking renovate the structure into loft-style apartments and will pay another $5000 to move the closing date to August 31 from May 31. The move was already approved by the Community Development Committee. Under the terms of the purchase, the developer would have to incur $1 million in construction costs by the end of next year or they’d lose a quarter million dollars. Wisconsin Redevelopment Vice President Todd Hutchison says the downturn in the economy has made it difficult for him to sell his recently-acquired low-income tax-credits to investors. Hutchison says he really wants to work with the city, but he can’t afford to risk pushing that kind of deadline so the additional $5000 is an insurance policy for a worst-case scenario. Hutchison says his company remains optimistic about the Beaver Dam project. The council tonight will also consider a demerit point system for local taverns, which was re-introduced at the last council meeting after being defeated last month. The Common Council meets at 8pm tonight at city hall.
Legislators Personal Wealth Declines by Millions
6/15/09 - Wisconsin’s richest member of the U-S House lost over 20-percent of his net worth in the last year. Menomonee Falls Republican Jim Sensenbrenner was worth eight-point-nine million dollars on March 31st. He lost almost two-and-a-half million dollars in the past 12 months, mainly due to declines in the stock market. Sensenbrenner, an heir to the Kimberly-Clark fortune, puts a detailed record of his assets and liabilities in the Congressional Record. He says he believes in full disclosure. But members are only required to list broad ranges for their total annual income and net worth. And while the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel gets a little more detail from Wisconsin’s delegation, only Senate Democrat Russ Feingold and House Democrat Tammy Baldwin of Madison supplied all the information the paper asked for. Feingold is worth 386-thousand dollars, one of the lowest among Wisconsin’s Capitol Hill lawmakers. House Democrat Gwen Moore of Milwaukee and Wausau Democrat David Obey also reported assets in the low six-figure ranges. Baldwin’s net worth is around one-point-one million dollars, down from one-point-four million last year. Fond du Lac House Republican Tom Petri is worth around eight-million. Senate Democrat Herb Kohl, one of the richest members of Congress, is estimated to own assets of around 110-million dollars. His annual income fell from 11-point-eight-million dollars to four-point-nine million during the year ending in March.
Dem’s Tab Lawton As Doyle Successor
6/15/09 - Wisconsin Democrats want Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton to be their party's nominee for governor next year, if Jim Doyle does not seek a third term. Wis-Politics-Dot-Com took their usual straw poll at the State Democratic Convention this past weekend in Green Bay. Eighty-two delegates preferred Lawton if Doyle steps down. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was the choice of 33 delegates, followed by Senator Jon Erpenbach of Waunakee and Congressman Ron Kind of La Crosse. Convention delegates were also asked which G-O-P candidate was more beatable for governor next year. 124 of them said it was Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, while 90 said former Congressman Mark Neumann was the easier challenger. Among other things, the convention unveiled a Democratic Internet ad that slammed both Walker and Neumann. That was one of the projects from U-W Madison student Sam Roecker, the state Democrats' first media intern. He's showing the party how to use You-Tube, Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of so-called "new media" to their advantage.
Ho-Chunk Wants Cigarette Tax Cash
6/15/09 - The Ho-Chunk Indian tribe is expected to find out tomorrow whether it can get thousands-of-dollars in refunds on cigarette taxes. The State Supreme Court will decide if the tribe is eligible for a refund based on cigarette sales at its DeJope bingo hall and casino in Madison for parts of 2003-and-’04. The tribe says the state must pay the refunds on 70-percent of cigarette taxes collected on lands that were designed as Indian property before 1983. The Ho-Chunk also said the law was ambiguous, and that’s another reason it should get the money. A state appeals court ruled last year that the DeJope Casino was not an Indian property until ’83, so the Ho-Chunk is not entitled to the tax refunds.
Goodwill Accepting Computers
6/15/09 - Goodwill has not accepted donations of computer equipment – until now. Many of Wisconsin’s Goodwill centers have just started taking used computers and related equipment in a partnership with Dell’s Re-connect recycling program. Maureen Roche of Goodwill Industries in south central Wisconsin says its stores will take any brand of computer in any condition, and it’s an ongoing program instead of something that’s done just once a year. Roche says donors can get receipts for tax purposes – and if they donate software, they’re asked to include the software licenses.
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