Top Stories, April 18th

Newest Honor Flight Hub Takes Off

4/18/10 - The average age of the World War II veterans flying to Washington, D.C., yesterday was 87. The youngest in the group was 83. They got on a jet early yesterday (Sat) morning for the Badger Honor Flight -- a trip to the nation's Capitol to see the war monuments erected to memorialize their accomplishments. Ninety-seven World War II vets made the flight this weekend. Five who had hoped to go died in the last year. It was the inaugural flight for Badger Honor Flight. Dodge County Veterans Service Officer Mark Grams says the Madison-based hub is the newest in the state and serves the western half of Dodge County. Grams is the Vice President of the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, which serves veterans in southeast Wisconsin, including the eastern half of Dodge County. The Stars and Stripes Honor Flight has a trip out of Milwaukee scheduled for May 2. The Veterans Administration estimates that 850 veterans who fought in that war die every day. The National World War II Memorial was opened in 2004. The Wisconsin veterans making the flight had all of their expenses paid and were accompanied by volunteers trained in first aid, two doctors and two nurses. Most trips are taken in the spring or fall, when the weather is the mildest. Honor Flight is a national program in 34 states with 89 hubs, five of which are in the Badger State. In addition to signing up new World War II vets, both programs are in need of donations and volunteers. Contact information is available on our website wbevradio.com.

Hustisford Storage Unit Break-In

4/18/10 - The Dodge County Sheriffs Department is investigating break-ins at a Town of Hustisford storage unit located on Marty Road. According to department records, ten units had locks cut-off, though it was unknown at the time of reporting if any items were stolen. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dodge County Sheriffs Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

Kennedy Opens Door

4/18/10 - Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy will hold another one of his regular open door meetings on Tuesday. Kennedy says city residents are invited to meet with him, one-on-one, without appointment on the first and third Tuesday of every month. He says it is important that constituents have the opportunity to speak with him the day after each regular meeting of the common council. The meetings are held in Room 109 on the first floor of City Hall from 10am until noon. Kennedy says he also make himself available for private meetings by appointment by contacting the mayor office.

Legislature To Debate Clean Energy Jobs Bill

4/18/10 - It looks like that huge bill containing a wide-ranging list of renewable energy goals for the state will be debated at the Capitol. With the legislative session ending next Thursday, that had looked doubtful. Now, a spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan says the Clean Energy Jobs Act has been added to the Assembly calendar. It could be voted-on next Tuesday. If it passes in the Assembly, there would be big pressure on the Wisconsin Senate to take action before it adjourns Thursday.

Appleton Woman Arrested In Murder Plot

4/18/10 - A Minnesota woman is being held in jail, awaiting extradition to Appleton. Dianna Siveny faces charges in Outagamie County. She's accused of paying a man 300 dollars to attack her domestic partner, Lara Plamann, in 2006. The man says he backed down because Plamann wasn't alone in her home when he planned to beat her. That admission came out as Outagamie County authorities continue to investigate Plamann's killing a year later. She was shot to death. Her body was found in the home she shared with Siveny. Authorities think Siveny was mad at Plamann because she was seeing another woman. No charges have ever been filed in connection with her murder.

McFarland Teen Recovers From Electrocution

4/18/10 - Seventy-two hundred volts couldn't kill teenager Hunter Franklin of McFarland. Now, the 14 year old is said to be almost completely recovered. He was shocked March 7th when the aluminum rake he was holding came into contact with a power line. His 16 year old sister found him on the ground and administered CPR until rescue personnel could take over. Franklin spent two days in critical condition, suffering serious burns to his right hand and foot. Those points were evidently where the charge entered, then exited his body. The family says it is lucky his sister found him so quickly and helped save his life. She was able to start CPR less than two minutes after the accident.

Operator Error Blamed In Toyota Mishap

4/18/10 - Sheboygan Falls police blame driver error for an accident involving a 76 year old woman from Kohler in her Toyota Camry. Myrna Marseille had told police her car accelerated as she was trying to brake in a parking lot. Surveillance video showed that the brake lights only came on after the car slammed into the wall. The accident happened March 29th. The car traveled through the parking area, jumped a curb and hit that wall. Marseille suffered a broken sternum. Police say they haven't decided whether to give her a ticket for the mishap.

DNR Suspends Northern Burning Permits

4/18/10 - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has suspended burning permits in the northern half of the state. DNR officials say the danger of wildfires is high right now. The permits are off the table from Lake Superior, through most of Central Wisconsin, from Iron to Marquette counties. Firefighters had to battle a blaze near Grantsburg Thursday. More than 113 acres burned. Forestry officials say high winds and low humidity recently have dried out the grass and dead leaves and made the situation dangerous.

Turkey In Garage Reports Up in Oshkosh

4/18/10 - Turkeys evidently find a garage a good place to take shelter. An Oshkosh woman tells police she was surprised when she found a full-grown turkey in her garage, bedded down under her car. That was the second report in Oshkosh in a two-day period of wild turkeys being found in a garage. Oshkosh police say that's a good argument for keeping your garage door closed -- you not only lessen the chances a thief will strike, you also make it less likely you'll find a wild bird there when you want to take your car out.