BDFD Proposes Participation in Multi-State Mutual Aid Program
10/07/09 - Beaver Dam’s new fire chief wants his department to enlist in a far-reaching mutual aid program that he says will enhance public safety at little to no cost. Chief Alan Mannel says the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, or MABAS, would coordinate emergency responders, EMT’s, HazMat officials, technical rescue personnel and even general staff from across the Midwest under one umbrella program. Mannel says MABAS would replace the informal mutual aid agreements that local municipalities already have in place, eliminating multiple calls to various agencies during an emergency. All calls would instead be routed through Dodge County central dispatch. Mannel says his department was part of the MABAS program in northern Illinois, and while it is effective in small-scale local emergencies, he says it can be invaluable during large-scale catastrophic events. With Hurricane Katrina, a couple firefighters from hundreds of departments – including Mannel’s former fire station – assembled in a large contingent so as not to strip any one department. Mannel says the costs of the program would be limited to paperwork. The Beaver Dam Police and Fire Commission approved the MABAS resolution last night and it now goes to the full council for consideration.
Dells Closes Schools Following Flu-Like Absences
10/07/09 - The Wisconsin Dells School District will be closed until next Monday after large numbers of absences were reported from students suffering from flu-like symptoms. Columbia County Health Officer Susan Lorenz says the decision to suspend class and activities at five district schools was made by the District Administrator after consulting with her office and the Wisconsin Division of Health Services.
Former gas Station Manager Ordered To Pay Full Restitution
10/07/09 - A Waupun woman who embezzled over $20,000 from Holiday Food and Sports has been ordered to pay restitution. Rhonda Bookout was a manager at the stores in Waupun and Beaver Dam. The 42-year-old took money and books of lottery tickets over a three year period. Bookout would scan the items, accept the money and then void the transaction. She told authorities that she paid back the money for all the lottery tickets, after she collected the winnings. In August, she was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years probation. During this week’s restitution hearing, she was ordered to pay back $23,145.
Six Months For Snowmobile Club Treasurer
10/07/09 - A Beaver Dam woman will spend six months in jail for embezzling from the Fox Lake Snowmobile Club. Jennifer Hoefs pleaded “no contest” this week to a felony count of Theft in a Business Setting for stealing nearly $13,000 over an 18-month period when she worked as treasurer for the organization. According to the criminal complaint, the 35-year-old wrote checks out to herself and cashed them to pay bills. Hoefs was also ordered to pay full restitution.
Innocence Project Gets Grant
10/07/09 - A federal grant will help identify Wisconsinites who might have been wrongfully convicted, and pay for D-N-A tests to help prove their innocence. The state Justice Department and the Wisconsin Innocence Project at U-W Madison will share a 647-thousand-dollar grant. The Innocence Project will help identify rape-and-homicide cases in which D-N-A tests might make a difference in acquitting the wrongfully-convicted. The Justice Department’s share of the money will pay for the D-N-A tests. And Justice and other state departments will analyze the results, and suggest any needed policy changes. The state Justice Assistance Office said at least six Wisconsinites have had homicide and rape convictions reversed at least partially with D-N-A tests. The most famous is Steven Avery. He was freed after serving 18 years for a rape he didn’t commit – only to be convicted a couple years later of killing Teresa Halbach in Manitowoc County. Avery is trying to get a new trial in that case.
10/07/09 - Beaver Dam’s new fire chief wants his department to enlist in a far-reaching mutual aid program that he says will enhance public safety at little to no cost. Chief Alan Mannel says the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, or MABAS, would coordinate emergency responders, EMT’s, HazMat officials, technical rescue personnel and even general staff from across the Midwest under one umbrella program. Mannel says MABAS would replace the informal mutual aid agreements that local municipalities already have in place, eliminating multiple calls to various agencies during an emergency. All calls would instead be routed through Dodge County central dispatch. Mannel says his department was part of the MABAS program in northern Illinois, and while it is effective in small-scale local emergencies, he says it can be invaluable during large-scale catastrophic events. With Hurricane Katrina, a couple firefighters from hundreds of departments – including Mannel’s former fire station – assembled in a large contingent so as not to strip any one department. Mannel says the costs of the program would be limited to paperwork. The Beaver Dam Police and Fire Commission approved the MABAS resolution last night and it now goes to the full council for consideration.
Dells Closes Schools Following Flu-Like Absences
10/07/09 - The Wisconsin Dells School District will be closed until next Monday after large numbers of absences were reported from students suffering from flu-like symptoms. Columbia County Health Officer Susan Lorenz says the decision to suspend class and activities at five district schools was made by the District Administrator after consulting with her office and the Wisconsin Division of Health Services.
Former gas Station Manager Ordered To Pay Full Restitution
10/07/09 - A Waupun woman who embezzled over $20,000 from Holiday Food and Sports has been ordered to pay restitution. Rhonda Bookout was a manager at the stores in Waupun and Beaver Dam. The 42-year-old took money and books of lottery tickets over a three year period. Bookout would scan the items, accept the money and then void the transaction. She told authorities that she paid back the money for all the lottery tickets, after she collected the winnings. In August, she was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years probation. During this week’s restitution hearing, she was ordered to pay back $23,145.
Six Months For Snowmobile Club Treasurer
10/07/09 - A Beaver Dam woman will spend six months in jail for embezzling from the Fox Lake Snowmobile Club. Jennifer Hoefs pleaded “no contest” this week to a felony count of Theft in a Business Setting for stealing nearly $13,000 over an 18-month period when she worked as treasurer for the organization. According to the criminal complaint, the 35-year-old wrote checks out to herself and cashed them to pay bills. Hoefs was also ordered to pay full restitution.
Innocence Project Gets Grant
10/07/09 - A federal grant will help identify Wisconsinites who might have been wrongfully convicted, and pay for D-N-A tests to help prove their innocence. The state Justice Department and the Wisconsin Innocence Project at U-W Madison will share a 647-thousand-dollar grant. The Innocence Project will help identify rape-and-homicide cases in which D-N-A tests might make a difference in acquitting the wrongfully-convicted. The Justice Department’s share of the money will pay for the D-N-A tests. And Justice and other state departments will analyze the results, and suggest any needed policy changes. The state Justice Assistance Office said at least six Wisconsinites have had homicide and rape convictions reversed at least partially with D-N-A tests. The most famous is Steven Avery. He was freed after serving 18 years for a rape he didn’t commit – only to be convicted a couple years later of killing Teresa Halbach in Manitowoc County. Avery is trying to get a new trial in that case.
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