Top Stories December 12th

Reeseville Man Dies from Injuries Sustained in Crash

12/12/09 - A second person has died from injuries sustained in a traffic accident on December 3rd. 53-year-old Mark Hamann of Reeseville was being treated at UW-Hospital in Madison since the accident but died yesterday afternoon. Authorities say 53-year-old Joel Cahoon was driving his Ford Explorer southbound on Highway G in the Town of Lowell when he struck a farm tractor Hamann was in. Cahoon was pronounced dead on the scene. Another occupant of the tractor, 31-year-old Thomas Hamann, is still hospitalized. Mark Hamann is Dodge County’s 15th traffic fatality this year.

Columbus PFC Offers Police Chief Position

12/12/09 - The Columbus Police and Fire Commission have offered the Chief of Police post to Daniel M. Meister, a current Police Captain and Acting Chief in Pewaukee. Employment was offered on the condition that the candidate must pass background, medical and psychological tests. The Columbus Police Department has been under the command of Acting Chief Dennis Weiner since March of 2008 when former Chief Gerald Sallmann retired.

Meister was selected unanimously from six finalists interviewed for the job. An eleven-year Army Reserve veteran, Meister has studied Police Science courses at MATC, Northwestern, Upper Iowa University and the University of Phoenix. He began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the Milwaukee Police Department and, for the past three years, he worked for the Pewaukee Police Department.

The new chief will be joining a department on the move. Columbus Police personnel will be moving from City Hall to the renovated Ludington Street Public Safety Building in January. Acting Chief Dennis Weiner says renovation is well underway.

The Police and Fire Commission will be meeting again on December 21st to discuss background check results and a possible starting date.

Storm Continues to be a Hazard for Drivers

12/12/09 - There’s still a lot of snow pack covering city streets. Beaver Dam Director of Facilities David Stoiser says the salt just doesn’t penetrate the icy surface during these extreme cold temperatures. He says road salt stops being effective below 15 degrees. The city is using sand with a chloride mixture which works to 15 below zero and is starting to eat away at the snow pack. He says there plan is to loosen up the snow pack and scrape it off. Stoiser says city residents are also required to treat snow and ice build-up on their own properties or be in violation of city ordinance. Ice that cannot be removed must be treated with a deicing or abrasive agent. Violations will result in city crews doing the work with the costs assessed against the property owner in addition to any municipal fines. A small quantity of sand/salt mixture is available to private city residents at the Northside of the Public Works Garage on South Center Street.

Municipal Election Coming into Focus

12/12/09 - The spring 2010 municipal election in Beaver Dam is starting to take shape as all but two incumbents have filed candidacy papers. Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy and Alderpersons Don Neuert and Donna Maly have all submitted completed nomination packets while Alderpersons Mary Flaherty, Howard Abel and Mick McConaghy have filed Declaration of Candidacy papers with the city clerk’s office, as of yesterday (Fri). The two remaining incumbents have picked up their packets but have not submitted anything as of yet. There are currently no challengers. Incumbents have until December 28th to file non-candidacy papers. Completed nomination packets with signatures for those planning on running are due January 5th.

Dodge County Snowmobile and ATV Trails Closed this Weekend

12/12/09 - The state D-N-R says some outdoor activities might be limited this weekend for a number of reasons. First of all, the snow-storm took down trees-and-branches in about half the state parks – so not all of the snowmobile and cross country ski trails will be open. Also, some of the county snowmobile trails might be closed due to un-harvested corn, and water that hasn’t frozen on the lakes yet. And finally, you’ll need to watch out for bullets in the woods. That’s because an antlerless gun deer hunt runs through tomorrow (Sunday). For that reason, Dodge County Snowmobile and ATV trails will be closed until at least Monday, despite the snowfall.

Saving Money at a Cost

12/12/09 - Green Bay drivers are discovering a new hazard brought on by the snow and cold. That Wisconsin city is one of several using new LED stop lights to save energy. The problem is, those lights don't give off enough heat to melt ice or snow -- meaning drivers don't know whether they're red or green. There have actually been crashes in Ashwaubenon and West Bend when drivers were confused as to which direction had the right of way. Green Bay city crews have had to brave the cold and scrape the ice and snow off the lights. The LEDs are not coming down. Public works officials say they have saved Green Bay thousands of dollars on its electric bills.

Doyle in Copenhagen for Climate Talks

12/12/09 - Governor Jim Doyle is scheduled to speak at least four times while he is in Copenhagen for the United Nations climate talks. He's scheduled to arrive Monday. On Thursday, the Wisconsin governor will speak at a meeting highlighting state and tribal energy innovations in this country. Doyle has discussions scheduled with leaders of the clean energy industry as well as government leaders from several countries. Among those he is to meet with is Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger. Doyle says he plans to focus on our efforts to increase the use of renewable sources in the Badger State.

Rep. Baldwin has H1N1

12/12/09 - U-S House Democrat Tammy Baldwin of Madison has the H-1-N-1 flu. Her doctor diagnosed it – and her spokeswoman said Baldwin has missed House votes the last several days while following her doctor’s advice and staying in her Washington apartment to recover. In a statement, Baldwin regretted missing House business – including floor consideration of a bill to overhaul the financial system which she strongly endorses. But Baldwin said she’s starting to feel better – and she hopes to get back to 100-percent very soon. Many of her constituents can sympathize. Baldwin’s home county of Dane has had 412 confirmed swine flu cases this year. State officials report almost 94-hundred cases statewide, with 34 deaths and 821 patients needing to be hospitalized.

BDAO Set for Holiday Performances

12/12/09 - The Beaver Dam Area Orchestra is hosting two holiday performances today (Sat). Music Director Rich Zieman has been with the orchestra for 17 seasons. He says the pool of over 50 musicians come from all over the region. The 5:30pm show is more family-oriented, and shorter, and will include appearances from Santa Claus, Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman. The second full performance begins at 7:30pm. Both shows are free. They will be held in the Beaver Dam High School Auditorium.