Monday, January 18, 2010

Top Stories, January 18th

Final Wave Of 32nd Brigade Due Home Today

1/18/10 - The final wave of Wisconsin soldiers called up as part of the largest deployment since World War II are returning home Monday. Over 1300 with the 32nd Infantry Brigade are landing at Volk Field. On Sunday, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry of Waupun and Ripon were welcomed back to the Badger State by family members, a military band and senior National Guard officials. After a brief official "welcome home" ceremony, soldiers travel to nearby Fort McCoy to begin about five days of demobilization processing before being released from active duty. One additional flight is scheduled later in the week with about 20 Soldiers from the 32nd Infantry Brigade Headquarters who have spent the final days of their tour coordinating all the flights for returning Soldiers. The 32nd Brigade was ordered to active duty last February and deployed to Iraq in April and May following two months of training at Fort Bliss, Texas. While in Iraq, the 32nd was tasked with a variety of missions including: base security, detainee guard force operations and turning over U.S.-controlled properties back the government of Iraq. The brigade's Soldiers operated around the clock, most of them working at least 12 hours a day for eight full months in Iraq. In addition to Waupun and Ripon, the deployed Soldiers of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team come from units in 36 Wisconsin communities, including Fond du Lac, Watertown and Oconomowoc.

BDUSD To Get Update On Issue Underlying Possible Referendum

1/18/10 - The Beaver Dam School Board will get another update tonight on some maintenance projects that may require a referendum to fund. Last month board members heard from district administrators about the upgrades needed. Tonight, they are expected to get a preliminary dollar figure for the projects. Depending on the outcome of the meeting, the board could vote as early as next month whether or not to put a referendum to district residents on the April ballot. The board meets at the Educational Service Center at 6:30pm.

Columbus Home Building Positive in ‘09

1/18/10 - Despite economic hard times, 2009 was a positive home building year in Columbus. Director of Economic Development and Energy Sustainability Steve Sobiek reported that the Brookstone energy efficient demo home was sold leading the way to plans to build four more. The positive residential construction market in Columbus was given an additional shot in the arm last week when a 24 unit condo project, funded in part by federal stimulus money, was announced for construction in 2010.

Horicon Officials Urging Survey Compliance

1/18/10 - The city of Horicon is asking residents to complete a survey that will guide them as the city council updates the five year Parks and Recreation Plan. The surveys are available at the Horicon Public Library, City Hall office and the Horicon Police Department lobby. Officials say they would like to have the surveys returned to where they picked them up or to City Hall by February 1st.

Alleged Arsonist Found Competent

1/18/10 - A 19-year-old man who told authorities he set fire to a porta-potty because he would rather live in a mental health facility than with a relative was found competent to stand trial Friday. Bryan Pirtle-Klitzka of Watertown has been charged with arson for allegedly starting a portable toilet on fire last June. According to the criminal complaint, Klitzka borrowed a lighter from a witness at the scene and told him he was going to burn something down. The witness told police he thought Klitzka was joking around until he saw smoke coming from the porta-potty. Authorities arrested Klitzka a short time later. He had his preliminary hearing set for February.

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