Monday, July 27, 2009

Top Storeis July 27th

Lawton Wants to Restore Film Tax Credit

7/27/09 - Wisconsin’s Lieutenant Governor doesn’t expect Johnny Depp to come back to Beaver Dam any time soon. The state budget that took effect at the beginning of the month scaled back film tax incentives, much to the chagrin of Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton. The original incentives were open-ended and subsidized Michael Mann's film about Depression-era gangster John Dillinger to the tune of $4.6 million. The state says filmmakers spent just $5 million while filming in Wisconsin, tough supporters of the incentives said that figure was under-reported. Lawton says there won’t be much film activity in the next year, but her office is determined to bring the incentives back because the state needs to build its creative economy, in addition to its traditional manufacturing economy. Lawton made the comments when she was in Beaver Dam last week touting changes in loan options for small businesses. Doyle signed the state budget the day before the movie “Public Enemies” premiered in Wisconsin.

Two Dead in Friday Fatal Wrecks

7/27/09 - A husband and wife are both expected to face charges following an accident early Friday morning that took the life of 21-year-old Ben VanderVenter. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office says VanderVenter crossed the centerline of Highway C in the Town of Hampden and collided head-on with a vehicle driven by 69-year-old Jack Frandy of Rio head-on. VanderVenter was pronounced dead at the scene while Frandy suffered minor injuries. Authorities say alcohol was a factor for both drivers and they found empty beer cans in VanderVenter’s vehicle. Frandy’s wife, Pamela, called the accident in claiming she was driving. However, an investigation later showed that she had not even been in the car at the time of the accident. Jack Frandy was arrested on a number of tentative charges including negligent homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. Charges against Pamela Frandy are pending.

Just before noon Friday, 48-year-old John Shattuck of Randolph was killed after failing to negotiate a curve in the Town of Westford. Alcohol and speed were not a factor in the crash and Shattuck was wearing his seatbelt.

Car Pulled from Beaver Dam River

7/27/09 - A car that was mostly submerged was pulled from the Beaver Dam River just before 8 a.m. yesterday morning. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says a car driven by Cory Coran ran off northbound Highway 151 near Center Road in the town of Beaver Dam and into the river. Coran was uninjured but was cited for operating after revocation. The Beaver Dam Fire Departments Dive Team assisted the towing company in hooking up the car to remove it.

Authorities Investigating B&E in Lomira

7/27/09 - Authorities are investigating a Breaking and Entering at a home for sale in the Town of Lomira. The real estate agent for a home on Oak Lane Road reported that someone had gained entry to the home sometime over the past few days. Law enforcement collected evidence from the scene for further investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.

Supreme Court Sides With Campbellsport Man

7/27/09 - The Wisconsin Supreme Court has sided with a Campbellsport man in saying doctors must tell patients about all available forms of treatment. The ruling came Friday in the case of Richard Bubb, who went to the emergency room after falling out of a chair. The E-R doctor told Bubb he suffered a temporary loss of oxygen in his brain and sent him home after consulting with a specialist. Two days later, Bubb had a stroke – and tests found that his carotid artery was 90-percent blocked. Bubb later sued, saying the doctor should have spelled out his treatment options when he went to the emergency room. The Supreme Court agreed, saying it what’s state law requires.

DCSO Warns of Blacktop Scam

7/27/09 - The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department is warning the public about a driveway blacktop scam. Several area residents have reported solicitations from an out-of-state company indicating they have excess blacktop from another job, and offer to pave or repave a driveway. They say it’s a good deal, but it’s often twice the going rate offered by local area paving companies. Workmanship has also been called into question. While is does not appear there is anything criminal taking place, law enforcement is reminding residents to be cautious.

The Tortoise and the Heat Lamp

7/27/09 - A fire at a home in Fond du Lac Friday night is being blamed on a tortoise. Officials say the tortoise knocked over a heat lamp that started the fire in a basement. There was smoke damage to the home but no one was injured. In the process of responding firefighters found the 40 pound tortoise and a double digit number of snakes including pythons and boa constrictors. The animals were removed from the home.

Bond Reduced for Mother Accused of Helping Son Move Corpse

7/27/09 - Bond has been reduced to $150,000 cash for a 53-year-old Fond du Lac woman accused of helping her son move a woman's corpse. Nancy Pinno allegedly aided her son 36-year-old son Brandon Mueller after he strangled Renee Redmer in Pinno's apartment last January. Pinno's bond was reduced from $250,000. District Attorney Dan Kaminsky says he went along with the bond reduction request after learning Pinno had confessed her role in Redmer's death to investigators. (KFIZ)

BD Stays Alive in American Legion Tournament

7/27/09 - Playing in their third elimination game in as many days White Construction/Beaver Dam American Legion Post 146 came out swinging yesterday beating Waupun 12-11. The win sets up a rematch with Deforest, which beat the Golden Beaver’s in the opening round of the double elimination tournament. You can catch the game on 1430 WBEV beginning with the pre-game at 5:15. If Beaver Dam wins, they’ll play Waupun tonight in the championship game for the right to go to the state tournament. That game will also be broadcasted on 1430 WBEV.

BDUSD Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

7/27/09 - The Beaver Dam High School Athletic Hall of Fame committee has chosen the inductees for the class of 2009. Evan Gagnon is a long time football and track coach who also taught history for 34 years at the high school. Jason Gonnion, an athlete at BDHS from 1986-1989, who was a three sport athlete excelling in football. After graduation, Gonnion played quarterback at UW-LaCrosse and helped lead them to the NCAA Division III National Championship in 1992. Dania Douglas, an athlete at the high school from 1990-1994, was a three sport athlete who lettered four times in track and field and qualified for state three times. All three will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of Beaver Dam Homecoming activities on Friday, September 25.

Busy Horicon Intersection Closed

7/27/09 - Horicon’s busiest intersection will be closed today as part of the Highway 33 reconstruction project. The intersection of Lake and Vine Streets will close around noon for continuing work. The detour will be the same as it was last month when it was closed. From Horicon’s west side: take Clinton Street to Horicon Street, cross over Main Street to Chandler Street until it meets Valley Street. Then turn right onto South Vine Street, go over the bridge, and turn right onto Mill Street. The Lake/Vine intersection will reopen as soon as all the work has been completed.

Hundreds Rally to Support Health Care Reform

7/27/09 - Hundreds of people attended a Milwaukee rally yesterday to urge Congress to pass health care reform. House Democrat Gwen Moore told the crowd that 14-thousand Americans are losing their jobs every day. And that’s boosting the number of people losing access to health coverage or the ability to pay for it. One woman said her sister died from lupus after she left a hospital against her doctor’s wishes, because her insurer wouldn’t pay for extra days. The rally was sponsored by “Organizing for America,” a spin-off group from President Obama’s election campaign. Moore said private insurers are against competing with the proposed government plan because their profits would drop. But Janesville House Republican Paul Ryan has said the government plan would put private insurers out of business. Thirty-one business groups have opposed the payroll tax in the House version of the bill.

Powerball Back Above $100M

7/27/09 - The Powerball jackpot is above 100-million-dollars for the first time since May 27th. Nobody won the top prize of 88-million on Saturday, so it goes up to 102-million for Wednesday night's drawing. This is the fifth time this year the top prize reached at least 100-million. The biggest jackpot winner of the year was also the last one -- 232-million-dollars in South Dakota on May 27th. Wednesday night's cash option is just over 50-million. That goes to a single winner who chooses not to take the top prize in 30 yearly installments.

No comments: