Top Stories, February 1st

Honor Flight Sets New Sights

2/1/10 - The organization that seeks to fly World War II veterans to Washington DC to visit their memorial has launched a new mission in hopes of chartering a 400-passenger 747. They’re calling it “Operation Resolve,” and organizers say they will be able to get at least 300 veterans from southeast Wisconsin on board this spring. Dodge County Veterans Service Officer Mark Grams is the Vice President of the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. He says a 747 would be three times the size of what they had been flying. Grams says the fundraising goal for Operation Resolve is $250,000.

Honor Flight is a national program in 34 states with 89 hubs, five of which are in the Badger State. The Stars and Stripes Honor Flight serves veterans in southeast Wisconsin, including the eastern half of Dodge County. Grams says the western half of Dodge County is now being served by the state’s newest hub out of Madison known as Badger Honor Flight.

The inaugural flight for the new Madison Badger Honor Flight hub is scheduled for April 17. The tentative date for the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight trip out of Milwaukee is May 2. In addition to signing up new World War II vets, both programs are in need of donations and volunteers.

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is now set up to take donations online. Visit www.starsandstripeshonorflight.org and click on the “Donate Now” icon. Donors can also mail checks payable to “Stars and Stripes Honor Flight” to PO Box 636, Port Washington, WI 53074. The phone number is 262-238-7740.

Badger Honor Flight can be found online at www.badgerhonorflight.org. Donors can also mail checks payable to “Badger Honor Flight” to PO Box 258066, Madison WI 53725. The phone number is (608) 835-8604.

Hundreds Turnout For Cabin Fever Fest

2/1/10 - The sun was shining and the thermometer even topped 20 degrees as several hundred people ascended on Beaver Dam’s Crystal Lake Park for the first-ever Cabin Fever Fest. The event was a joint effort between the city and the Chamber of Commerce and featured music, food, contests, skating, sledding and more. Community Activities and Services Administrator Evonne Koeppen says the turnout was “excellent” and they’ve already got dozens of ideas for next year.

Westford Residence Sustains Minor Fire Damage

2/1/10 - Minor damage was reported following a Saturday morning fire in the Town of Westford. Beaver Dam firefighters saw light smoke when they arrived at W9800 County Highway G just after 11:30am. The owner-occupant of the mobile home had extinguished the flames on a burning carpet just before they came. Smoke and water damage was limited to one portion of the residence. Crews were on the scene for just over an hour. The cause remains under investigation.

Watertown Man Sentenced For Child Porn

2/1/10 - In Dodge County court on Friday, a six year in prison sentence was handed down to a Watertown man found in possession of child pornography. Eight pictures of a pre-teen girl were found on Craig Feder’s computer. The victim’s mother contacted police after finding emails with the content. The 41-year-old told admitted to authorities that he asked for the photos but said he did not ask for nude pictures. Feder was also sentenced to six years of extended supervision.