Top Stories March 29th

Early Spring Causes Fire Concerns
3/29/10 - The early spring has brought an early risk of wild-fires to much of Wisconsin. The D-N-R says the fire-danger is high much of the state including in Columbia, Green Lake and Dane Counties. Melting snow has exposed a larger-than-normal amount of dry grasses, leaves, and branches that can fuel wild-fires. Authorities are asking people not to start cooking or warming fires, and to be careful with machines that can trigger sparks.

1 WI College Student Killed, 6 Injured in MO Accident

3/29/10 - A college student from Appleton was killed, and six others were injured when their van crashed near Saint Louis on their way home from spring break. 23-year-old Brad Nudelbacher died at the scene. The crash happened about 7:45 yesterday morning on northbound Interstate-55 in Imperial Missouri, about 20 miles south of Saint Louis. Authorities said their van veered out of control while trying to avoid a car that was merging into their lane. It hit a guard rail and a concrete pillar. Two other men were hospitalized in critical condition at last word. The other four were treated and later released. The driver was the only one wearing his seatbelt.

Kennedy and Liverseed Square Off

3/29/10 - Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy took time to discuss the issues with write-in candidate Joe Liverseed on WBEV’s Community Comment last Friday. Liverseed, a senior at Wayland Academy who fell one valid signature short of appearing on the ballot, says the city needs a fresh, youthful voice in government. Kennedy says his experience has been a benefit to the city -- from two major downtown housing developments to the securing of $20 million in stimulus funds for a new wastewater treatment plant – and he hopes to continue that success. The two candidates will also be meeting with voters on Thursday afternoon at the Hotel Rogers.

Mayville Mayoral Candidates to Appear on Community Comment

3/29/10 - On Community Comment this afternoon we begin the first of three programs looking at contested mayoral races in Dodge County. Today we welcome Mayville mayoral candidates Bob Smith and Jerry Moedee. The two are competing to see who will succeed Tracy Heron who decided not to seek re-election after one full term. In addition, Smith is looking to retain his Ward 2 seat. Because that too is a contested race, we will hear from Smith’s aldermanic opponent, Kathleen Sertich, at the end of today’s program. Tomorrow on Community Comment our guests will be Waupun’s incumbent mayor Jodi Steger and challenger Jay Graf. On Wednesday, we hear from Juneau incumbent mayor Ron Bosak and challenger Dan Jahnke. Community Comment airs weekdays on WBEV beginning at 12:35pm.

Fitzgerald Leaving Marshal Post

3/29/10 - Former Dodge County Sheriff Stephen Fitzgerald is leaving his post as U.S. Marshal. President Obama has nominated Dallas Neville to return to the position he held for the 8-years before Fitzgerald was appointed by former President George W. Bush. Neville is currently the deputy director of emergency police services for the state Military Affairs Department. He was appointed by former President Clinton as the U-S Marshal for the western half of Wisconsin from 1994-to-2002 before being replaced by Fitzgerald. His appointment as western Wisconsin’s U-S Marshal must still be confirmed by the U-S Senate’s Judiciary Committee and then by the full Senate.

Kohl: Health Care Bill a Good Start

3/29/10 - U.S. Senator Herb Kohl says it still needs some tinkering but overall he believes the health care reform package passed last week is a good start. Kohl made his comments at an awards dinner in Fond du Lac over the weekend. The Democrat says the package will make health care more affordable for everyone in America. He also says the timing was important as he thinks had they not passed it now it would have been another 10-15 years before legislators attempted to do it again. Kohl was one of the 56-senators who voted to approve the bill last week.

Benz Case Thrown Out

3/29/10 - A judge on Friday threw out the case of a Campbellsport woman accused of abusing a 10-month-old girl. 52-year-old Mary Benz was charged in 2007 with felony child abuse and three misdemeanor counts of obstructing police related to the alleged incident in June of ’07 at the Our Lady of the Lakes Child Care Center in Random Lake. The judge said Benz was denied her right to a speedy trial, to the point in which witnesses had trouble recalling facts. D-A Joe DeCecco said he would appeal the dismissal.

Kenosha Soldier to be Honored

3/29/10 - Flags will be at half-staff today at state government and military facilities to honor a Kenosha soldier killed in Iraq. 26-year-old Army Specialist Robert Rieckhoff was on guard duty 11 days ago when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his watch-tower. He had served twice in Iraq and once in Kuwait after graduating from Kenosha Tremper High School in 2002. Members of his unit called Rieckhoff a hero.

Fall River Woman a Finalist for “Alice in Dairyland”

3/29/10 - A local woman is a finalist to be Wisconsin’s next “Alice in Dairyland”. Christine Lepple Lindner of Fall River is one of six finalists for the title that will be awarded on May 22nd. The winner will spend the next year promoting Wisconsin's food products as a one-year ambassador for the state Agriculture Department. All six have extensive agricultural training, and farming-and-marketing experience. The new Alice will replace Eastman native Cheryl O'Brien. More information is available at the program's Web site at AliceInDairyland-Dot-Com.

Winning Megabucks Ticket Sold in Racine

3/29/10 - Another week and another big lottery winner in Wisconsin. A week after a Fond du Lac man won a million dollars playing Powerball somebody in Racine is seven-and-a-half million dollars richer. One ticket matched all six numbers in Saturday night’s Megabucks lottery. The Megabucks will go back to 1-million-dollars for Tuesday’s drawing while the Powerball jackpot is 81-million-dollars for Wednesday night’s drawing.