Top Stories November 7th

Watertown Man Killed in Highway 26 Crash

11/7/09 - A 21-year-old Watertown man was killed last night when his car hit a tree in the Town of Chester. Dodge County authorities say the man was taking a curve on Highway 26 just north of Highway C-I when his car left the road a struck a large tree on the right shoulder. The man was pronounced dead on the scene. He was the only one in the vehicle. The Crash Investigation Team is still determining a cause for the accident. The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of family. The incident happened just after 6pm.

Lodi Man Among the Soldiers Wounded at Fort Hood

11/7/09 - A soldier from Columbia County was among the 30 people injured in Thursday's shooting rampage at Fort Hood Texas. His father said Army Reserve Specialist Grant Moxon of Lodi (pictured) was standing in front of shooting suspect Nidal Hasan – and he amazingly escaped with bullet wound just above one of his knees. The 23-year-old Moxon joined the reserves last year, after graduating from U-W La Crosse as a mental health specialist. His father Dave said Moxon was planning to serve in Afghanistan after making a trip home for Thanksgiving. Army soldier Amy Krueger of Kiel in Manitowoc County and Specialist Russell Seager of Racine were among the 13 people killed in yesterday’s massacre. 19-year-old Army reservist Amber Bahr of Random Lake was shot in the abdomen – and her base commander said she treated and moved another soldier before she even realized she was shot herself.

The gunman was identified as 39-year-old Major Nidal Hasan of Virginia, who's been in the military for eight years. Hasan was first reported to be killed. But he was hospitalized in stable condition at last word under a military guard. Officials said Hasan targeted a ceremony at a base readiness center. A motive has not been disclosed. Hasan was about to be deployed overseas. Media reports said he was transferred to Fort Hood in July after getting a poor performance evaluation while working at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. A co-worker told Fox News that Hasan opposed U-S involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. But while he realized that soldiers must follow orders, he hoped President Obama would order a pull-out by now.

Huber Inmate Dies

11/7/09 - A 34-year-old Huber inmate was found unconscious in his cell area at the Dodge County Detention facility around 2:15 yesterday afternoon. Authorities say officers attempted to revive him until the Juneau EMS arrived on scene. The 34-year-old Hartford man was taken to the Beaver Dam hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Officials ay there appears to be no foul play involved at this time but their investigation continues. The name of the inmate has not been released pending notification of family.

High Speed Chase Leads to Arrest

11/7/09 - A 24-year-old Fall River man was taken into custody yesterday morning hours after he led authorities on a nearly 20-mile car chase that reached speeds of 120-miles per hour. Mayville authorities say as an officer was attempting to pull over a car for having a brake light out the driver took off. The subject left Mayville on Highway Y before turning onto Highway 49 towards Waupun. Officials say when the pursuit got into Waupun the man tried passing a car on the right side, jumped the curb and landed in an East Main Street driveway. The driver then ditched the car and took off on foot. An officer along with his K-9 dog started chasing the man but he was able to get away. However, a number of hours later he was spotted at a gas station and taken into custody. The man faces a number of charges, including eluding an officer.

BD PFC to Reconsider Withholding Rape Exam Payments

11/7/09 - The Beaver Dam Police and Fire Commission will be revisiting the idea of withholding some payments to Meriter Hospital. Deputy Chief Dan Schubert told the commission this week that it was his understanding that police departments are billed roughly $280 as part of a rape exam, but that bill is not always paid by police departments. And nurses at Meriter reportedly told Schubert when the bill is not paid, the hospital do not pursue the matter. Since the vote, Schubert says he has been contacted by Meriter officials and the matter will be brought back before the Police and Fire Commission. Schubert says he expects the decision to withhold payments will be changed at the December meeting.

Large Fight Early Friday in BD Results in 1 Arrest

11/7/09 - The Beaver Dam Police Department was called to a Madison Street bar early Friday morning to break up a fight involving as many as 10 people. According to Deputy Chief Dan Schubert, officers responded to Johnny Lounge at 12:48am. A 21-year-old Horicon man ran from the establishment but was apprehended and taken into custody on a probation violation and transported to jail. Two Beaver Dam women were cited for Disorderly Conduct.

BDPD Investigating Breaking and Entering Reports

11/7/09 - The Beaver Dam Police Department is investigating several breaking and entering reports that have occurred over the past couple days. Two garage break-ins were reported Thursday morning. A garage on the 700 block of West Burnett was broken into and then a car window was smashed and a video system was stolen. A second garage break-in was reported yesterday morning on the 200 block of DeClark; a car stereo system was taken. A third garage on the 700 block of North Center was entered and beer and a work light were removed. Yesterday morning, authorities responded to reports of a break-in at the former Cornerstone Baptist Church on the 300 block of East Burnett; an assortment of tools was stolen. Authorities are investigating and they ask anyone with information to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department or the anonymous We-Tip Hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

Niesen Gets Life in Prison

11/7/09 - The crime was committed more than 33 years ago. Now, a man from Ashwaubenon will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing Kathleen Leichtman. A jury found 53 year old Thomas Niesen guilty of slashing the girl's throat in July 1976. He had left her body by the side of the road. Niesen was arrested last February after DNA evidence showed he had sex with the victim before she died. Niesen was sentenced in Fond du Lac County court yesterday.

Palin Speaks in West Allis

11/7/09 - Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin tells a Wisconsin audience to keep pressing politicians on abortion questions. Palin spoke to an audience of about five thousand in West Allis last night. She didn't mention President Barrack Obama by name, but did touch on health care reform and said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should make sure all voices are heard on the controversial legislation. Organizers with Wisconsin Right to Life said the media wouldn't be allowed to cover her visit to the Milwaukee area -- which comes 11 days before her book, "Going Rogue," is to be released.

Insurance Companies to Merge

11/7/09 - Two area insurance companies are planning to merge at the start of next year. Regulators have approved the merger of Watertown Mutual and Ixonia Mutual – and policy holders are scheduled to vote on the move at a meeting in about a month. The new company would be called Forward Mutual Insurance. It would be based in Ixonia, where that company’s president Howard Wiedenhoeft would become the new C-E-O for the merged operation. Current employees of both insurers would stay on. The new Forward Mutual would have almost five-thousand policy-holders with over 860-million dollars in total insurance coverage. The two companies have customers in 16 southern Wisconsin counties.