Top Stories, March 6th

Teen Center of Beaver Dam Closes

3/6/10 - The Beaver Dam Teen Center has temporarily closed its doors and the future of its parent organization “High Expectations” is up in the air. High Expectations Executive Director Ruth Lindegarde says for the immediate future, there will be some previously scheduled programs operating out of the Teen Center building on the 100 block of South Spring Street but without funding from another source there will be no way to reopen the doors. In addition, the High Expectation offices on North Lincoln and Park Avenue will be empty after today (Sat). Lindegarde says High Expectations has received approximately $1.5 million dollars since 2004 to provide youth-oriented programs and the Teen Center was one of those programs. She says two of the grants were only active through last fall while a current grant ends at the end of this year but cannot be used to fund the Teen Center. Lindegarde says for the Teen Center to reopen there would have to be support from private donations or from the city. The annual operating costs for 2009 were $159,000. Over 700 kids were signed-up as members of the Teen Center, and there were 250 to 300 teens who actively attended the facility.

Lomira Child Molester Sentenced To 13 Years

3/6/10 - A Lomira man will spend 13 years in prison for molesting a teenage girl over a six-year period. Maynard Luedtke pleaded “no contest” to a felony charge in December and had a second count dismissed but read into the record. The 61-year-old sexually assaulted the girl on numerous occasions beginning in 2002 and ending in 2007, when she came forward to school officials. According to the criminal complaint, Luedtke admitted to six encounters when the girl was 17-years-old but told investigators that he “never forced” her to have sex with him. At sentencing yesterday, Judge Steven Bauer said Luedtke’s actions were “sickening” and that he had a “warped sense of what went on.”

Owner Arrested In Bowling Alley Fire

3/6/10 - Fond du Lac police have made an arrest in the Last Stop Lanes fire. Police Captain Steve Klein says one of the owners of the building, Lyle Huss, was taken into custody Thursday night. Investigators determined Huss may be responsible for the fire that gutted the building early Wednesday morning. The 46-year-old became part owner of the former West Side Lanes in the summer of 2008. He faces a possible arson of a building charge.

No Arrests Following High Speed Chase

3/6/10 - Authorities were unable to apprehend the suspect in a high speed chase in Beaver Dam Friday morning. Lt. John Kreuziger says an officer saw the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on North Spring Street at County Highway B around 5:30am and initiated a pursuit. The vehicle then entered Highway 151 and Dodge County Sheriffs deputies joined in the chase. Area police agencies were notified of the incident after the unsuccessful pursuit ended. There was no vehicle description available. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

$3 Gas Around The Corner

3/6/10 - Three dollar gasoline may not be far away. Craig Thompson with the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin says gas prices are expected climb in the coming months. Thompson says demand for crude oil is up again. When the cost of crude goes up it usually leads to higher prices for gasoline. Also, refiners will soon be switching to more expensive summer blends of gasoline. A gallon of regular unleaded in Beaver Dam is averaging $2.69. According to AAA Wisconsin, the statewide average is $2.68 a gallon, up four-cents from a month ago and 72-cents from a year ago.

Brookstone Homes Bucks State, Local Trends

3/6/10 - A local homebuilder has not seen the dramatic drop in new home starts that the rest of the state and nation have. Southern Wisconsin’s new home starts fell 22 percent in 2009 and home starts nationwide for January, 2010 were at their lowest rate since the government started keeping records in 1963. But Brookstone Homes, which built Stonehaven in Beaver Dam, built 107 homes in 2009 making them Southeastern Wisconsin’s largest single-family homebuilder. Brookstone President Scott Thistle says there are plenty of examples of how the residential construction industry is hurting but his company has managed to find a niche and remain successful in a bleak market. Thistle said that Brookstone employs 19 people along with an additional 60 subcontractors per home built. The 107 homes built in 2009 represent more than $20 million for Wisconsin’s economy.

DNR Deer Herd Meetings Scheduled

3/6/10 - The DNR will be hosting a pair of open houses in our area later this month to present information on deer management, herd status and hunting. DNR wildlife biologists will focus on the 2009 deer harvest and season summary for chronic wasting disease in the effected areas. Officials says they will also show a video covering updates on deer management, hunter involvement in deer management, new research initiatives, and the DNR’s proposed chronic wasting disease management plan. A meeting for Dodge County will be held on Monday, March 15 at the Horicon Marsh International Education Center beginning at 5:30pm. Another meeting covering Jefferson and Rock Counties, along with southern Dodge County, will be held at the Fort Atkinson Library from 6pm to 8:30pm on March 18.

Three Brothers Off To War

3/6/10 - In southern Dunn County, Mary Lemke is about to send three sons off to war. All three are headed with about 400 other Wisconsin Army National Guard soldiers to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Lemke is 19 years old, Greg Lemke Junior is 21 and their half-brother Curtis Anderson is 27. The Wisconsin Guard soldiers will train at Fort McCoy, then ship out for a year of active duty. Mary Lemke says she is nervous and it is going to be hard, but she says she and her husband, Greg, are very proud of their sons. She says it won't be the same without the boys around, saying they usually have dinner as a family every Sunday.

PAVE Offers ‘Sweet Thanks’ Tonight

3/6/10 - Officials with a local domestic violence shelter are hosting what promises to be a sweet fundraiser Saturday night. Jamie Kratz-Gullickson, the Executive Director of People Against Violent Environments, says fundraisers like “Sweet Thanks” are important now more than ever, not only to keep the shelter doors open but because in the last two years since the economic downturn domestic incidents have increased 400%. “Sweet Thanks” will be held at the Beaver Dam Veteran’s Center on Beichl Avenue and begins at 6pm with a musical performance by Rich Zieman and the Beaver Dam High School Jazz Ensemble. The Master of Ceremonies is Good Karma Broadcastings own Lezli Young. A “Delicious Dessert Auction” is set for 7pm. Then at 7:30pm, awards will be given to an individual, a group and a volunteer who have helped the shelter over the years. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at Rechek’s Food Pride or at the door. Kratz-Gullickson says those who bring their significant other can directly help victims of domestic violence because it costs $50 to provide one night of shelter.

Seriously, Don’t Feed The Bears

3/6/10 - The Lincoln Park Zoo in Manitowoc was closed after a visitor was seriously injured Friday. Police say a woman had gone past barriers and warning signs and was apparently trying to feed two bears that morning. One of the animals bit off at least two of the woman's fingers. Tracy Weiler's boyfriend tried to pry the bear's mouth of her hand and he was injured as well. The Manitowoc mayor's office suggests alcohol was a factor in the incident. A three year old child with the couple wasn't injured. Authorities say the bears are not likely to be euthanized.