Top Stories October 15th

Murder Suicide Being Investigated in West Bend

10/15/09 - A man shot-and-killed his ex-wife and then killed himself overnight in West Bend. It happened around midnight. Media reports said police found the bodies in the woman’s driveway next to an S-U-V that was still running. The U-S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives was called in after police found a pipe bomb that was detonated inside the S-U-V. Police said the woman’s adult son was in her house at the time. She was 52. The victims’ names were not immediately released.

Missing Persons Alert

10/15/09 - Authorities have issued a missing persons alert for a woman in neighboring Washington County. Stephanie Fischer (left) of West Bend was last seen on October 6 after reporting a domestic abuse incident involving Dennis Moe. The two were married a few months ago and police say domestic violence incidents have been escalating. Moe is considered armed and dangerous. Fischer is a 31-year-old Caucasian with blond hair, blue eyes, five-feet ten inches tall and 180lbs. Fischer has a half-inch diagonal scar on her upper lip, a surgical scar on her abdomen and a rose tattoo on her back. Moe drives a grey, 2006 Dodge Charger (license plate # 272PXT). Anyone with information is asked to contact the West Bend Police Department or the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Persons at 800-The HOPE.

Man Arrested at Gunpoint

10/15/09 - A 44-year-old Chippewa Falls man was taken into custody at gunpoint yesterday morning after a deputy attempted to pull him over for drunk driving in the Town of Clyman. Sheriff’s Department officials say they initiated a traffic stop on Highway 26 around 1am but the driver, David Leland, did not pull over. He eventually pulled into the Jungle Cat Paintball parking lot, drove through the grass, before turning and driving towards the pursuing deputy. The deputy pulled his gun and Leland stopped and was taken into custody. Authorities say his blood alcohol level was .2 more than double the legal limit. In addition to his 3rd OWI Leland was cited for speeding, operating while suspended, and failure to obey an officer.

White Cane Day

10/15/09 - Today is National White Cane Safety Awareness Day. October 15 was established in 1964 to raise awareness of the issues faced by blind and visually impaired Americans. On Community Comment this week, Waupun resident Eleanor Loomans encouraged the public to be more aware of the blind and visually impaired and pointed out that there is a White Cane Law, which prohibits a vehicle from being within 10 feet of a person with a red and white cane or a guide dog.

Lake Days Revenue Down

10/15/09 - Beaver Dam Lake Days had a nearly $15,000 drop in revenue this year. That’s according to Lake Days President Aaron Holbrook who attributes the decline to the loss of a ride vendor, coupled with lower sponsorship and concession sales and a lack of financial support from the city. The city had previously donated money from the room tax fund, which was established to promote tourism and development. In 2003, revenue started to dry-up after a contract change redirected the hotel tax revenue to the Beaver Dam Area Development Corporation and the Chamber. The Community Development Committee plans to discuss ways to replenish a tourism fund. But with budget deliberations underway right now, the Lake Days Committee is asking the city to consider a $7000 or $8000 donation to help fund the costs of the fireworks display next year, which typically costs upwards of $15,000. Holbrook says there could be some changes in store for next year’s Lake Days. The Administrative Committee continues its budget talks on Tuesday, October 27.

One Injured In Two-Vehicle Wreck

10/15/09 - One person was injured in a two-vehicle wreck Wednesday morning in Columbus. Authorities say a 32-year-old Columbus man was traveling westbound on Highway 16 when he was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by a 31-year-old Beaver Dam man. The Columbus man was transported to the Columbus Community Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities say his vehicle may have possibly had faulty rear lights; he was ticketed for Failure to Wear A Seatbelt. The Beaver Dam man was ticketed for following too closely. The accident occurred just after 7am and Highway 16 was reduced to one-lane for about a half-hour.

Crave Bros Gets International Recognition

10/15/09 - Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese was recently given a top prize in an international competition. The Waterloo-based cheese maker was awarded the Gold Medal for their Mascarpone in the World Cheese Awards in the Canary Islands, which is off the coast of northern Africa. The competition featured nearly 2500 entries from 34 counties from around the world competing in 140 categories. The Crave Brothers Farm was the site of the 2009 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.

Concealed-Carry Gets another Look

10/15/09 - There’s a new effort to let Wisconsinites carry concealed weapons. But this time, Milwaukee’s police chief Ed Flynn and D-A John Chisholm are floating the idea, as part of a compromise to create tougher gun control laws. They want to require background checks for the buyers of all guns in Wisconsin – including those at gun shows. And if they have to cut a deal by allowing concealed carry, so be it. Right now, background checks are only required at federally-licensed gun shops – and carrying a concealed weapon is a misdemeanor. Flynn says there should be a tough process for granting concealed-carry permits – and those caught without permits should be slapped with felonies. Wisconsin is one of only two states that do not allow concealed weapons.

Police Eradicate Marijuana Plants in Shawano County

10/15/09 - About eight-thousand marijuana plants have been eradicated from a wildlife area in Shawano County. Almost 80 law enforcement officers from nine departments stamped out plants from a dozen growing sites in the Navarino Wildlife Area. Sheriff Randall Wright said the operation was abandoned a long time ago – and a large amount of pot was harvested before authorities ever knew about it. They were able to get some evidence by dismantling four work-and-camp sites. Federal, state, and local officers helped with the eradication. Officials called it one of the largest marijuana growing sites ever in Wisconsin.

Possible Furlough Loophole?

10/15/09 - The head of the state government’s largest employee union says he has no evidence that workers are trying to get around the unpaid furloughs they have to take. But the Associated Press says employees have talked about banking more unused vacation days so they can get cash for them when they leave – and there’s some talk of veteran workers cashing up to five days of vacation. Officials are not sure what the extent might be – but if it gets to be too much, agencies may have to cut spending elsewhere. State Employees’ Union director Marty Beil says there might be a small increase in the banking of vacation time as sabbatical time for this year. That’s mainly because many employees only had a few months this year to take the eight unpaid days they’re supposed to cover each year of the two-year budget that took effect in July.

Not Much Support for Beer Tax Increase in Upper Level of Legislature

10/15/09 - Supporters of an increase in the beer tax are frustrated by some high-level opposition. Paul Jenkins of Mequon recalled a meeting with state Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker during which Decker said there was “no way in hell” he’d increase the tax on beer. Jenkins’ pregnant stepdaughter and her 10 year old child were killed by a drunk driver a year-and-a-half ago. He says he believes “any tax that hasn’t been raised in forty years needs to be looked at.” An Assembly committee has held a public hearing on the legislation. The state’s tax on beer has not been increased since 1969.