Ground Broken on Wastewater Treatment Upgrades
10/30/09 - Ground was broken Thursday on an upgrade and expansion to Beaver Dam’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. The city was awarded $20 million in stimulus money in August to expand their outdated wastewater treatment plant and incorporate green technology into the upgrade. City leaders joined construction contractors and officials with the DNR and Alliant Energy in moving earth at the site on Beltline Drive. Of the $20 million the city received, half is an outright grant while the other half is a low-interest, tax-free loan. The plan allows the city to pre-treat waste from Kraft Foods and convert it to biogas which will be used to generate electricity, saving the city about a quarter million dollars a year in electricity costs. In addition, Alliant Energy will buy surplus electricity from the city, estimated at another quarter million dollars annually. The project should be complete by the end of next year.
H1N1 Flu Clinics Set
10/30/09 - There are a couple H1N1 flu clinics scheduled in the area next week. The first one will be held at the Portage High School next Friday, November 6 from 2pm to 6pm. And then the Dodgeland School in Juneau will be a host site on Saturday November 7 from 9am until 2pm. Local health officials says the vaccine will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to people in high-risk categories because of the limited availability of both the nasal and injectable form. Parents are asked to bring their child’s immunization records. They will also need to sign a consent form for minors under 18 years of age. Columbia County Health Officer Lorenz asks that no one arrived on the campus before 1:30pm because school is in session and there will be a high volume of students leaving the schools in busses and cars. Because of that, the public is being asked to drive to and from the high school on East Collins Street and park between the high school and the John Muir School.
Fond du Lac Board Approves Incentives Borrowing
10/30/09 - Fond du Lac County supervisors this week approved borrowing for the first phase of an incentive package for Mercury Marine. During the past few months both the City and County of Fond du Lac approved incentive packages that total $53 million for the outboard engine maker that would retain the company and lead to further job creation. The $20 million approved by the County Board Tuesday night is the first phase of borrowing for the County's share of the incentive package. County Executive Al Buechel says overall the investment in the company's future is also an investment in the local economy. Buechel says the state has yet to announce details of its incentive package for Mercury, but it's thought to be similar to what the city and county offered. The County's creation of a half-percent sales tax that goes into effect next April will make payment s on the loan to Mercury. Mercury gets credits on the loan from the County for job creation and retention, and product development.
Brunswick Losses Top $114 M
10/30/09 - The owner of Fond du Lac’s Mercury Marine lost 114-million dollars in its most recent quarter. The Brunswick Corporation of suburban Chicago said it lost a-dollar-29 a share from a year ago, and sales in its boating division were down 62-percent. Brunswick makes boats and engines, bowling and billiard equipment, and fitness equipment. The company said Mercury’s outboard motor plants kept cutting production and furloughing employees due to the low sales. Union employees at Mercury recently agreed to contract concessions to keep the Fond du Lac plant from moving to a non-union site in Oklahoma. And the Fond du Lac County Board approved a local sales tax to help Mercury stay in town.
Finance Committee Advances Co Budget
10/30/09 - The Dodge County Finance Committee has approved a slightly amended version of the 2010 budget that will now go to the full board for approval. The 3-percent cap on property tax levy increases means the county was able to raise their total levy by about $930,000 for a total of $31.9-million. The proposed tax rate for 2010 is $5.21 per $1,000 of assessed value, up 13-cents or 2.5-percent from ‘09. That means a person whose property is valued at $100,000 would pay about $521 for the county portion of their tax bill. The finance committee rejected a request from Circuit Court Judge Brian Pfitzinger to fund a alcohol coordinator position but did vote to allow fund carryovers for two positions in the human services budget. A public hearing on the budget will be held the morning of November 10th. The Board of Supervisors are expected to vote on the budget following the hearing.
BDACT Hosts Halloween Radio Show Tonight
10/30/09 - The Beaver Dam Area Community Theater is dipping way back into the golden age of radio for a frightful trilogy of broadcast-ready short stories tonight. For one show and one show-only the theater is presenting a Halloween Radio Trilogy culled from actual radio scripts from the 30’s and 40’s. The show kicks off with the Canterville Ghost, which was broadcast as part of Terror By Night and aired in 1936. The second performance is a Halloween episode from the Baby Snooks radio show, which ran from 1936 to 1951. The trilogy caps off with the Thanksgiving-themed “Terrified Turkey Caper” with Detective Sam Spade who was later portrayed by Humphrey Bogart in the Oscar-nominated “Maltese Falcon.” Unlike the annual Christmas Radio Shows which are broadcast on WBEV and WXRO, for this first year of the Halloween show, the director decided not to broadcast and instead focus on delivering a sound effects-heavy show for the theater audience. The Halloween Radio Show performance is at 7:30pm tonight at the Beaver Dam Community Theater building on North Spring Street. General Admission Tickets are $6 and are available at Rechek’s Food Pride or at the door.
Liquor Tax Scrapped
10/30/09 - Wisconsin Senate Democrats have scrapped the idea of raising the state’s liquor tax to pay for a crackdown on drunk driving. Instead, they’re considering a higher fee to reinstate driver’s licenses after they’re suspended and revoked. A Senate committee endorsed a 50-cent tax hike on a bottle of booze. But Assembly leaders balked at the increase – and it’s held up action on several drunk driving measures the Assembly unanimously passed a few weeks ago. The Joint Finance Committee delayed the package this week because of the disagreement over the liquor tax. The panel will take it up again on Tuesday – this time with a higher license reinstatement fee. Senate Democrat Jim Sullivan of Wauwatosa is not sure if all drivers would be subject to the increase, or just those convicted of O-W-I. Right now, it costs 60-dollars to reinstate a suspended or revoked license. Joe Volk of the Community Advocates group in Milwaukee said an increase would unfairly hurt the poor. Meanwhile, Sullivan says it will cost only half as much as expected to adopt the proposed drunk driving reforms. That’s because some people will avoid driving drunk so they won’t have to breathe into ignition interlocks to start their cars. Among other things, the bill requires interlocks for all repeat offenders, and first-timers with blood alcohol levels of point-15 or higher. The bill also makes first-time O-W-I a criminal misdemeanor if kids are in the vehicle.
Supreme Ct Rejects Judicial Reform
10/30/09 - The state Supreme Court has sided with business interests by rejecting calls for reform of the judicial code of conduct. In a 4-3 vote, the court approved rules allowing judges to hear cases involving their biggest campaign contributors. During the emotional hearing, the high court rejected proposals from retired Justice Bill Bablitch and the League of Women Voters. Bablitch suggested withdrawing when a litigant had given 10 thousand dollars. The League said a justice should pull out if a litigant had given a thousand dollars over a two-year period.
Age for Health Insurance Coverage Increases
10/30/09 - Starting January first, more young adults in Wisconsin will be able to stay covered under their parents’ health insurance plans. The new state budget allows those under 27 to stay on their parents’ plans, unless they qualify for cheaper coverage through their employers. Governor Jim Doyle promoted the new benefit during a news conference yesterday. He said it would help many young people who are not offered private health coverage – or cannot afford it early in the working lives, when their wages are presumably their lowest. The state insurance commissioner’s office does not have an estimate of how many young people would be covered by the new law. Commissioner Sean Dilweg says the impact on rates should not be that much.
Columbus Public Safety Building Renovation Begins
10/30/09 - Renovation of the Columbus Public Safety building at 159 South Ludington Street started this week when the former building owners moved out. Attorneys Strohschein and Green have moved into a new business office at 1132 Park Avenue making way for the Police Department. The former “Law Office” building is now being readied for Columbus Police occupancy. Attorney Karl Green said that their law practice was happy to make their former office building available for City use. Strohschein and Green moved into the former home of Columbus Family Dental and the former Law Office building and garage will house the Police Department when they move out of City Hall. The Columbus Police hope to move into the renovated quarters early in January.
10/30/09 - Ground was broken Thursday on an upgrade and expansion to Beaver Dam’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. The city was awarded $20 million in stimulus money in August to expand their outdated wastewater treatment plant and incorporate green technology into the upgrade. City leaders joined construction contractors and officials with the DNR and Alliant Energy in moving earth at the site on Beltline Drive. Of the $20 million the city received, half is an outright grant while the other half is a low-interest, tax-free loan. The plan allows the city to pre-treat waste from Kraft Foods and convert it to biogas which will be used to generate electricity, saving the city about a quarter million dollars a year in electricity costs. In addition, Alliant Energy will buy surplus electricity from the city, estimated at another quarter million dollars annually. The project should be complete by the end of next year.
H1N1 Flu Clinics Set
10/30/09 - There are a couple H1N1 flu clinics scheduled in the area next week. The first one will be held at the Portage High School next Friday, November 6 from 2pm to 6pm. And then the Dodgeland School in Juneau will be a host site on Saturday November 7 from 9am until 2pm. Local health officials says the vaccine will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to people in high-risk categories because of the limited availability of both the nasal and injectable form. Parents are asked to bring their child’s immunization records. They will also need to sign a consent form for minors under 18 years of age. Columbia County Health Officer Lorenz asks that no one arrived on the campus before 1:30pm because school is in session and there will be a high volume of students leaving the schools in busses and cars. Because of that, the public is being asked to drive to and from the high school on East Collins Street and park between the high school and the John Muir School.
Fond du Lac Board Approves Incentives Borrowing
10/30/09 - Fond du Lac County supervisors this week approved borrowing for the first phase of an incentive package for Mercury Marine. During the past few months both the City and County of Fond du Lac approved incentive packages that total $53 million for the outboard engine maker that would retain the company and lead to further job creation. The $20 million approved by the County Board Tuesday night is the first phase of borrowing for the County's share of the incentive package. County Executive Al Buechel says overall the investment in the company's future is also an investment in the local economy. Buechel says the state has yet to announce details of its incentive package for Mercury, but it's thought to be similar to what the city and county offered. The County's creation of a half-percent sales tax that goes into effect next April will make payment s on the loan to Mercury. Mercury gets credits on the loan from the County for job creation and retention, and product development.
Brunswick Losses Top $114 M
10/30/09 - The owner of Fond du Lac’s Mercury Marine lost 114-million dollars in its most recent quarter. The Brunswick Corporation of suburban Chicago said it lost a-dollar-29 a share from a year ago, and sales in its boating division were down 62-percent. Brunswick makes boats and engines, bowling and billiard equipment, and fitness equipment. The company said Mercury’s outboard motor plants kept cutting production and furloughing employees due to the low sales. Union employees at Mercury recently agreed to contract concessions to keep the Fond du Lac plant from moving to a non-union site in Oklahoma. And the Fond du Lac County Board approved a local sales tax to help Mercury stay in town.
Finance Committee Advances Co Budget
10/30/09 - The Dodge County Finance Committee has approved a slightly amended version of the 2010 budget that will now go to the full board for approval. The 3-percent cap on property tax levy increases means the county was able to raise their total levy by about $930,000 for a total of $31.9-million. The proposed tax rate for 2010 is $5.21 per $1,000 of assessed value, up 13-cents or 2.5-percent from ‘09. That means a person whose property is valued at $100,000 would pay about $521 for the county portion of their tax bill. The finance committee rejected a request from Circuit Court Judge Brian Pfitzinger to fund a alcohol coordinator position but did vote to allow fund carryovers for two positions in the human services budget. A public hearing on the budget will be held the morning of November 10th. The Board of Supervisors are expected to vote on the budget following the hearing.
BDACT Hosts Halloween Radio Show Tonight
10/30/09 - The Beaver Dam Area Community Theater is dipping way back into the golden age of radio for a frightful trilogy of broadcast-ready short stories tonight. For one show and one show-only the theater is presenting a Halloween Radio Trilogy culled from actual radio scripts from the 30’s and 40’s. The show kicks off with the Canterville Ghost, which was broadcast as part of Terror By Night and aired in 1936. The second performance is a Halloween episode from the Baby Snooks radio show, which ran from 1936 to 1951. The trilogy caps off with the Thanksgiving-themed “Terrified Turkey Caper” with Detective Sam Spade who was later portrayed by Humphrey Bogart in the Oscar-nominated “Maltese Falcon.” Unlike the annual Christmas Radio Shows which are broadcast on WBEV and WXRO, for this first year of the Halloween show, the director decided not to broadcast and instead focus on delivering a sound effects-heavy show for the theater audience. The Halloween Radio Show performance is at 7:30pm tonight at the Beaver Dam Community Theater building on North Spring Street. General Admission Tickets are $6 and are available at Rechek’s Food Pride or at the door.
Liquor Tax Scrapped
10/30/09 - Wisconsin Senate Democrats have scrapped the idea of raising the state’s liquor tax to pay for a crackdown on drunk driving. Instead, they’re considering a higher fee to reinstate driver’s licenses after they’re suspended and revoked. A Senate committee endorsed a 50-cent tax hike on a bottle of booze. But Assembly leaders balked at the increase – and it’s held up action on several drunk driving measures the Assembly unanimously passed a few weeks ago. The Joint Finance Committee delayed the package this week because of the disagreement over the liquor tax. The panel will take it up again on Tuesday – this time with a higher license reinstatement fee. Senate Democrat Jim Sullivan of Wauwatosa is not sure if all drivers would be subject to the increase, or just those convicted of O-W-I. Right now, it costs 60-dollars to reinstate a suspended or revoked license. Joe Volk of the Community Advocates group in Milwaukee said an increase would unfairly hurt the poor. Meanwhile, Sullivan says it will cost only half as much as expected to adopt the proposed drunk driving reforms. That’s because some people will avoid driving drunk so they won’t have to breathe into ignition interlocks to start their cars. Among other things, the bill requires interlocks for all repeat offenders, and first-timers with blood alcohol levels of point-15 or higher. The bill also makes first-time O-W-I a criminal misdemeanor if kids are in the vehicle.
Supreme Ct Rejects Judicial Reform
10/30/09 - The state Supreme Court has sided with business interests by rejecting calls for reform of the judicial code of conduct. In a 4-3 vote, the court approved rules allowing judges to hear cases involving their biggest campaign contributors. During the emotional hearing, the high court rejected proposals from retired Justice Bill Bablitch and the League of Women Voters. Bablitch suggested withdrawing when a litigant had given 10 thousand dollars. The League said a justice should pull out if a litigant had given a thousand dollars over a two-year period.
Age for Health Insurance Coverage Increases
10/30/09 - Starting January first, more young adults in Wisconsin will be able to stay covered under their parents’ health insurance plans. The new state budget allows those under 27 to stay on their parents’ plans, unless they qualify for cheaper coverage through their employers. Governor Jim Doyle promoted the new benefit during a news conference yesterday. He said it would help many young people who are not offered private health coverage – or cannot afford it early in the working lives, when their wages are presumably their lowest. The state insurance commissioner’s office does not have an estimate of how many young people would be covered by the new law. Commissioner Sean Dilweg says the impact on rates should not be that much.
Columbus Public Safety Building Renovation Begins
10/30/09 - Renovation of the Columbus Public Safety building at 159 South Ludington Street started this week when the former building owners moved out. Attorneys Strohschein and Green have moved into a new business office at 1132 Park Avenue making way for the Police Department. The former “Law Office” building is now being readied for Columbus Police occupancy. Attorney Karl Green said that their law practice was happy to make their former office building available for City use. Strohschein and Green moved into the former home of Columbus Family Dental and the former Law Office building and garage will house the Police Department when they move out of City Hall. The Columbus Police hope to move into the renovated quarters early in January.
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