Top Stories, March 21st

Beaver Dam Girls Going To State

3/21/10 - It took overtime, but the Beaver Dam girls basketball team is heading back to the state tournament for the first time in nearly 20 years. The Beavers got 16 points from Cady Roedl as they beat Oshkosh West 51-48 Saturday night. Beaver Dam fought back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to earn their first trip to Madison since 1991. The 24-1 squad will take on DePere at 6:35pm Thursday night at the Kohl Center. All the action can be heard right here on WBEV beginning with our pre-game coverage at 6:15pm There will also be a pep rally sendoff for the team on Tuesday night. Officials are asking the community to gather at the high school's north gym at 7pm for the event.

Rockets State Champs...Again

3/21/10 - The Randolph boy's basketball program now has more championship trophies than anyone else in the state. The Rockets earned their record eighth gold ball by crushing Green Bay Northeastern Wisconsin Lutheran 58-40 in the Division 4 state championship game in Madison yesterday. UW-Milwaukee recruit Kyle Kelm had 23 points and nine rebounds in his final game for Randolph. The Rockets jumped out to an early lead by scoring the first 10 points of the game and causing six turnovers in the opening minutes.

Wisconsin Solider Killed In Iraq

3/21/10 - A Wisconsin soldier has died while serving in Iraq. Army Specialist Robert Riechhoff was killed Thursday. The U.S. Army says a rocket-propelled grenade hit a watchtower Reickhoff was in while he was on guard duty. Reickhoff was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, and had also served in Kuwait. He had been in the Army since he graduated from Kenosha Tremper High School eight years ago.

MPD Kills Man With Gun

3/21/10 - The Milwaukee Police Department reports the man shot to death by two officers Friday night had pointed a gun at them and refused to drop it. Police were responding to a tip that a man wanted on several outstanding warrants was at a residence in Milwaukee. As officers arrived, the suspect ran out of the house and led cops on a foot chase. At one point the suspect fell and dropped his gun, then he picked it up and turned it on the officers. A police spokesperson says the officers warned him several times before shooting. The man was dead at the scene.

Students Sentenced For Plotting Attack

3/21/10 - Teenager Brett Bedora will spent 90 days in jail for making threats against Crivitz High School and a female student. The Marinette County Judge, in handing down the sentence, said every school threat has to be taken seriously. The judge also praised the female student who alerted officials about Bedora's plans to take a gun to school. An investigation found several loaded weapons in the boy's bedroom, as well as a notebook containing information about making bombs and with notes about killing the school janitor. Bedora has been expelled from Crivitz High School.

Sames Fighting Extradition

3/21/10 - Authorities in Minnesota and Wisconsin are investigating Jamie Lee Sames' past - to see if he has committing additional sexual assaults. Sames is accused of pretending to be a police officer and fondling a 13 year old girl outside the Fox River Mall. He is being held in the Scott County Jail in Shakopee, Minnesota, after being arrested last Tuesday. Shakopee police are reportedly investigating Sames for possession of child pornography. One newspaper reports he was convicted of violating Minnesota's "Peeping Tom" law five years ago. Sames is reportedly fighting extradition to Wisconsin.

Madison Weathers Economic Storm

3/21/10 - The Brookings Institute reports government and educational centers have weathered the economic storm better than other cities. The Madison metropolitan statistical area is included in the list of the 20 strongest economic metro areas in the country. The only other Midwestern cities on the list are Omaha and Kansas City. State government and the University of Wisconsin's presence are given a lot of the credit. Madison is in a similar situation to other cities which have weathered the economic storm - like Austin, Jackson, Mississippi, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Franklin Correctional Improved

3/21/10 - A report from the National Institute of Corrections says there is much work left to be done, but the improvements at the once-troubled House of Correction in Franklin have been a major difference. Better security, staffing, maintenance and fiscal oversight were noted in the report. It says Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Junior has turned a "deeply troubled" jail into a good one. Remaining problems are listed as a too-small staff, a core group of embittered workers and inmate food and recreation shortfalls.

Kohl Holding Office Hours in Juneau

3/21/10 - A representative with U.S. Senator Herb Kohl’s office will be holding office hours in Dodge County this week. Senator Kohl says if you are having a problem with a federal program or agency, or if you have an opinion on an issue before Congress, you can let him know by meeting with his Regional Representative, Darcy Luoma. Office hours are scheduled on Tuesday from 12:30pm to 1:30pm in Room F of the Dodge County Administration Building in Juneau.