Juneau Man Killed in Accident
12/16/09 - One Juneau man was killed and another injured after their minivan struck the trailer portion of a semi in the town of Emmet last night. Authorities say 56-year-old John Richards was driving east on Highway CW around 6:30 when he collided with a tractor trailer rig that was being backed into a driveway. Richards was eventually taken by Flight for Life to Froedert Hospital where he passed away just before midnight. His passenger, 34-year-old Wilbur Uttke of Juneau, was taken to the Watertown Hospital. The driver of the semi, 57-year-old John Kopas of Watertown, was uninjured. Richards is the 16th traffic fatality in Dodge County this year.
Udey Dam will be Repaired
12/16/09 - Columbus will be receiving a $166 thousand dollar DNR grant for the Repair of the Udey Dam. After four years of debate on whether the Dam should be removed or repaired the Council moved ahead planning the repair option. The Council submitted an grant application for repair to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources earlier this fall and recently learned they had been approved. The grant money will cover only future Udey Dam construction costs. Mayor Link said money for planning the repair is already budgeted. The repair of the dam is one of the top seven capital improvement projects scheduled in the 2010 Columbus Budget.
DC Board Transfers Money for Highway Department
12/16/09 - Dodge County officials are moving ahead with design plans for new Highway Department facilities. Last night the county board transferred more than two-million-dollars into a fund intended to help pay for the new facilities. That money had originally been intended for the possible expansion of the jail but the Executive Committee felt that because there was no timeline on the expansion they could make better use of the money. Highway Commissioner Brian Field says the estimated cost of the project is between seven and eight-million-dollars with construction spread out over three years. The next step in the process is to finalize the design plans and prepare to get bids on the project.
FDL Pastor Accused of Stealing Holiday Donations
12/16/09 - A church pastor in Fond du Lac is accused of stealing five-to-10-thousand dollars in holiday donations over the last decade. The Reverend Stuart Zak resigned last month from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, after staff members found shortages of gift money from past holiday seasons and called authorities. Police say the 55-year-old Zak has confessed, and officers will wrap up their investigation by the end of the week. Zak had been Good Shepherd’s pastor for 16 years. The church has about 450 members. The new pastor, the Reverend Brett Naumann, would not say why the money was taken. He said Zak would no longer be allowed to serve as a pastor in any program run by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Naumann says the church is grieving over the thefts – but he said they’ve had “amazing growth” both spiritually and physically during Zak’s years as pastor. And Naumann thanked him for his service.
Drunk Driving Reforms to be Considered During Special Session
12/16/09 - Wisconsin lawmakers are expected to consider a package of drunk driving reforms in a special session today. Governor Jim Doyle also wants them to let Milwaukee’s mayor take control of the city’s embattled school system – but it doesn’t look like it will happen. Yesterday, the Senate Education Committee introduced an alternative in which the state superintendent would focus on improving several low-performing Milwaukee schools. That proposal was an amendment to another bill that’s supposed to be up today, which lets the state school leader intervene in failing schools statewide. Doyle says both bills are key to getting federal education stimulus money in the president’s “Race to the Top” program. But Senate Education chairman John Lehman of Racine says neither bill will get a vote today, because they need more review. Senate Republican Luther Olsen of Ripon has criticized the new measure. He says it doesn’t go far enough, because the superintendent could not make changes that go against a union contract. Doyle wants the bills passed in time for the state to meet a January 19th deadline to seek the first round of stimulus cash.
Resolution Drafted for Removal of Rep. Wood
12/16/09 - A special committee drafted a resolution yesterday which accuses State Representative Jeff Wood of bringing “disrepute” on the Assembly. But the panel did not suggest a punishment, after the 40-year-old Wood was cited three times in the last year for driving while intoxicated. Chairwoman Mary Hubler of Rice Lake said she wanted told hold a hearing in January where Wood can respond before a punishment is suggested. The committee told Wood to prepare a defense. The panel was formed after Whitewater Republican Steve Nass introduced a resolution to expel Wood – a Chippewa Falls Independent who was arrested last December for driving under the influence of alcohol, and twice since then for driving under too anti-anxiety medication. After yesterday’s meeting, Nass accused the committee of stalling, so Assembly Democrats can continue to have Wood “vote for their agenda.”
Government Workers Can Use Snow Day as Furlough
12/16/09 - State and U-W workers who were snowed out last Wednesday can use that as one of their eight unpaid furlough days for the current fiscal year. Spokeswoman Carla Vigue says employees whose offices and schools were closed last Wednesday could either treat it as a paid day off – or take one of the furlough days required to help balance the current state budget. State offices have been closing more often since July to accommodate the furloughs. The day after Thanksgiving was among the days when most state offices were shut down for the first time.
12/16/09 - One Juneau man was killed and another injured after their minivan struck the trailer portion of a semi in the town of Emmet last night. Authorities say 56-year-old John Richards was driving east on Highway CW around 6:30 when he collided with a tractor trailer rig that was being backed into a driveway. Richards was eventually taken by Flight for Life to Froedert Hospital where he passed away just before midnight. His passenger, 34-year-old Wilbur Uttke of Juneau, was taken to the Watertown Hospital. The driver of the semi, 57-year-old John Kopas of Watertown, was uninjured. Richards is the 16th traffic fatality in Dodge County this year.
Udey Dam will be Repaired
12/16/09 - Columbus will be receiving a $166 thousand dollar DNR grant for the Repair of the Udey Dam. After four years of debate on whether the Dam should be removed or repaired the Council moved ahead planning the repair option. The Council submitted an grant application for repair to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources earlier this fall and recently learned they had been approved. The grant money will cover only future Udey Dam construction costs. Mayor Link said money for planning the repair is already budgeted. The repair of the dam is one of the top seven capital improvement projects scheduled in the 2010 Columbus Budget.
DC Board Transfers Money for Highway Department
12/16/09 - Dodge County officials are moving ahead with design plans for new Highway Department facilities. Last night the county board transferred more than two-million-dollars into a fund intended to help pay for the new facilities. That money had originally been intended for the possible expansion of the jail but the Executive Committee felt that because there was no timeline on the expansion they could make better use of the money. Highway Commissioner Brian Field says the estimated cost of the project is between seven and eight-million-dollars with construction spread out over three years. The next step in the process is to finalize the design plans and prepare to get bids on the project.
FDL Pastor Accused of Stealing Holiday Donations
12/16/09 - A church pastor in Fond du Lac is accused of stealing five-to-10-thousand dollars in holiday donations over the last decade. The Reverend Stuart Zak resigned last month from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, after staff members found shortages of gift money from past holiday seasons and called authorities. Police say the 55-year-old Zak has confessed, and officers will wrap up their investigation by the end of the week. Zak had been Good Shepherd’s pastor for 16 years. The church has about 450 members. The new pastor, the Reverend Brett Naumann, would not say why the money was taken. He said Zak would no longer be allowed to serve as a pastor in any program run by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Naumann says the church is grieving over the thefts – but he said they’ve had “amazing growth” both spiritually and physically during Zak’s years as pastor. And Naumann thanked him for his service.
Drunk Driving Reforms to be Considered During Special Session
12/16/09 - Wisconsin lawmakers are expected to consider a package of drunk driving reforms in a special session today. Governor Jim Doyle also wants them to let Milwaukee’s mayor take control of the city’s embattled school system – but it doesn’t look like it will happen. Yesterday, the Senate Education Committee introduced an alternative in which the state superintendent would focus on improving several low-performing Milwaukee schools. That proposal was an amendment to another bill that’s supposed to be up today, which lets the state school leader intervene in failing schools statewide. Doyle says both bills are key to getting federal education stimulus money in the president’s “Race to the Top” program. But Senate Education chairman John Lehman of Racine says neither bill will get a vote today, because they need more review. Senate Republican Luther Olsen of Ripon has criticized the new measure. He says it doesn’t go far enough, because the superintendent could not make changes that go against a union contract. Doyle wants the bills passed in time for the state to meet a January 19th deadline to seek the first round of stimulus cash.
Resolution Drafted for Removal of Rep. Wood
12/16/09 - A special committee drafted a resolution yesterday which accuses State Representative Jeff Wood of bringing “disrepute” on the Assembly. But the panel did not suggest a punishment, after the 40-year-old Wood was cited three times in the last year for driving while intoxicated. Chairwoman Mary Hubler of Rice Lake said she wanted told hold a hearing in January where Wood can respond before a punishment is suggested. The committee told Wood to prepare a defense. The panel was formed after Whitewater Republican Steve Nass introduced a resolution to expel Wood – a Chippewa Falls Independent who was arrested last December for driving under the influence of alcohol, and twice since then for driving under too anti-anxiety medication. After yesterday’s meeting, Nass accused the committee of stalling, so Assembly Democrats can continue to have Wood “vote for their agenda.”
Government Workers Can Use Snow Day as Furlough
12/16/09 - State and U-W workers who were snowed out last Wednesday can use that as one of their eight unpaid furlough days for the current fiscal year. Spokeswoman Carla Vigue says employees whose offices and schools were closed last Wednesday could either treat it as a paid day off – or take one of the furlough days required to help balance the current state budget. State offices have been closing more often since July to accommodate the furloughs. The day after Thanksgiving was among the days when most state offices were shut down for the first time.
Identity Thieves Now Using Change of Address Forms
12/16/09 - A new form of identity theft is targeting people before mail even gets to their door step. Thieves have been filling out “change of address” forms for unsuspecting victims and having their mail redirected to other states, like New York or Connecticut, where that information is collected and used to get things like credit cards. Beaver Dam Post Master Bev Ovalle says a couple such incidents have been reported in Beaver Dam in the past few weeks. She says if you haven’t been getting some regular mail, like your tax bill, credit card bills, magazine subscriptions or even Christmas cards, call you local post office. If you live in a multi-person household, it is possible that one person has their mail re-directed but others do not. Ovalle says you might also get notification from the Post Office that your address has been changed. Identity theft isn’t the only reason someone might not get their mail. Ovalle says if you fail to shovel you walk or stairway, postal workers will not deliver to your home.
Accused Oconomowoc Cop Killer Bound Over
12/16/09 - A Jefferson County judge yesterday ordered Andrew Wirth to stand trial on charges that he shot and killed an Oconomowoc police officer and another man outside a bar earlier this month. The 24-year-old is charged with two counts of First Degree Intentional Homicide in connection with the shootings of 37-year-old Jennifer Luick and 40-year-old Gregg Peters. It happened in the early morning hours of December 6 outside of Vinnie’s Rock Bottom Tavern in Jefferson, after Luick jokingly touched Wirth on his buttocks. During the confrontation that followed, Wirth allegedly pull out a semi-automatic handgun. Peters was shot in the left side of the torso and died at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. Luick, a six-year veteran of the Town of Oconomowoc Police Department, was shot near her right breast and died at a Fort Atkinson hospital. Wirth had an arraignment hearing set for January 14. Each count carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Yesterday (Mon), hundreds of police officers from all over Wisconsin gathered in New Berlin to pay last respects to Luick. A fundraiser for her 11-year-old son will be held tomorrow (Wed) night in Okauchee.
Day Care OWI
12/16/09 - A man was arrested Monday on OWI charges after picking his kids up at a Beaver Dam daycare. Staff with the daycare told authorities he was stumbling and smelled of alcohol when he got the children around 3pm. The 45-year-old was later arrested for his fourth OWI with the additional enhancer of having minors in the vehicle. The children and vehicle were released to his wife.
H1N1 Vaccine Recall
12/16/09 - Wisconsin’s health agency says the H-1-N-1 children’s vaccine recalled by the federal government Tuesday is safe. The U-S Centers for Disease Control recalled about 800-thousand doses made by Sanofi Pasteur for kids ages six-months to three years. The C-D-C said some of the vaccine is not potent enough. Wisconsin received almost 15-thousand doses of the product that was recalled. And in a news release, the health services department said children who get two doses of vaccine as recommended – about four weeks apart – should have adequate protection against the H-1-N-1 flu. But in the meantime, the state was contacting providers who received the vaccine in question, so they administer vaccines from the lots which were recalled. Health officials said there’s no need to re-vaccinate those getting medicines from the affected lots, as long as a second dose is given later as normal.
Unemployment Checks In The Mail
12/16/09 - About four-thousand Wisconsinites who’ve used up their unemployment benefits have been told to re-apply for more. The state wrote those people, reminding them to apply for the extended benefits President Obama approved about six weeks ago. About nine-thousand unemployed people in Wisconsin have applied for those new benefits – and they’ll get their first checks by the end of the week. It took the state’s workforce development agency just over a month to re-program its computers to reflect the added benefits, and that’s why they were not given out until now. In addition to those who applied and those whose benefits expired, officials say another two-thousand people have payment that are about to expire – or have just run out. They, too, may be eligible for the extended benefits.
12/16/09 - A new form of identity theft is targeting people before mail even gets to their door step. Thieves have been filling out “change of address” forms for unsuspecting victims and having their mail redirected to other states, like New York or Connecticut, where that information is collected and used to get things like credit cards. Beaver Dam Post Master Bev Ovalle says a couple such incidents have been reported in Beaver Dam in the past few weeks. She says if you haven’t been getting some regular mail, like your tax bill, credit card bills, magazine subscriptions or even Christmas cards, call you local post office. If you live in a multi-person household, it is possible that one person has their mail re-directed but others do not. Ovalle says you might also get notification from the Post Office that your address has been changed. Identity theft isn’t the only reason someone might not get their mail. Ovalle says if you fail to shovel you walk or stairway, postal workers will not deliver to your home.
Accused Oconomowoc Cop Killer Bound Over
12/16/09 - A Jefferson County judge yesterday ordered Andrew Wirth to stand trial on charges that he shot and killed an Oconomowoc police officer and another man outside a bar earlier this month. The 24-year-old is charged with two counts of First Degree Intentional Homicide in connection with the shootings of 37-year-old Jennifer Luick and 40-year-old Gregg Peters. It happened in the early morning hours of December 6 outside of Vinnie’s Rock Bottom Tavern in Jefferson, after Luick jokingly touched Wirth on his buttocks. During the confrontation that followed, Wirth allegedly pull out a semi-automatic handgun. Peters was shot in the left side of the torso and died at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. Luick, a six-year veteran of the Town of Oconomowoc Police Department, was shot near her right breast and died at a Fort Atkinson hospital. Wirth had an arraignment hearing set for January 14. Each count carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Yesterday (Mon), hundreds of police officers from all over Wisconsin gathered in New Berlin to pay last respects to Luick. A fundraiser for her 11-year-old son will be held tomorrow (Wed) night in Okauchee.
Day Care OWI
12/16/09 - A man was arrested Monday on OWI charges after picking his kids up at a Beaver Dam daycare. Staff with the daycare told authorities he was stumbling and smelled of alcohol when he got the children around 3pm. The 45-year-old was later arrested for his fourth OWI with the additional enhancer of having minors in the vehicle. The children and vehicle were released to his wife.
H1N1 Vaccine Recall
12/16/09 - Wisconsin’s health agency says the H-1-N-1 children’s vaccine recalled by the federal government Tuesday is safe. The U-S Centers for Disease Control recalled about 800-thousand doses made by Sanofi Pasteur for kids ages six-months to three years. The C-D-C said some of the vaccine is not potent enough. Wisconsin received almost 15-thousand doses of the product that was recalled. And in a news release, the health services department said children who get two doses of vaccine as recommended – about four weeks apart – should have adequate protection against the H-1-N-1 flu. But in the meantime, the state was contacting providers who received the vaccine in question, so they administer vaccines from the lots which were recalled. Health officials said there’s no need to re-vaccinate those getting medicines from the affected lots, as long as a second dose is given later as normal.
Unemployment Checks In The Mail
12/16/09 - About four-thousand Wisconsinites who’ve used up their unemployment benefits have been told to re-apply for more. The state wrote those people, reminding them to apply for the extended benefits President Obama approved about six weeks ago. About nine-thousand unemployed people in Wisconsin have applied for those new benefits – and they’ll get their first checks by the end of the week. It took the state’s workforce development agency just over a month to re-program its computers to reflect the added benefits, and that’s why they were not given out until now. In addition to those who applied and those whose benefits expired, officials say another two-thousand people have payment that are about to expire – or have just run out. They, too, may be eligible for the extended benefits.
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