County Projects Get Initial FundingBeaver Dam Holds Reorganizational Meeting
4/21/10 - The Dodge County Board awarded the sale of 30-million-dollars in general obligation bonds yesterday that will help fund the reconstruction of the Clearview facility. Bidding for the Build America Bonds opened at 9:30 yesterday morning with the winning bid coming from Robert W. Baird and Company at a rate of 3.219-percent, which is lower than officials initially thought it would be. Coming in second was M&I Bank with a bid of 3.223-percent, just a shade higher than Baird. The board was also informed that because the interest rates were lower than expected they’ll save around $875,000 in debt payments over the 20-year-life of the bonds. Earlier this year the board approved 44.5-million-dollars for the Clearview project and another 8-million for renovation of the Highway Department Facility in Juneau. An additional 15-million-dollars will be borrowed next year to cover the remaining cost of the projects. The money will be paid back over the next 20-years with county sales tax revenue as well as through the operating budgets for both Clearview and the Highway Department.
Senate Says No to Lawsuit over Health Care Reform
4/21/10 - State Senators voted yesterday not to let the attorney general file a lawsuit to stop the national health reform law from taking effect in Wisconsin. Republicans proposed the resolution, but majority Democrats shot it down on an 18-15 party line vote. Attorney General J-B Van Hollen questions the requirement that almost everyone buy health insurance or face fines. Majority Leader Russ Decker said Republicans were standing up for insurance companies instead of siding with the un-insured.
Job Bills Passes Through Senate
4/21/10 - Wisconsin senators have approved the CORE Jobs Bill that would spend 16-million-dollars this year to improve the state’s economy. The package was sent to Governor Jim Doyle yesterday after all Democrats voted yes and all Republican voted no. GOP members were against changes the Assembly made last week to limit some of the incentives to narrow groups of companies, like those that are environmentally-friendly. The bill would also expand tax credits for companies in their early stages, plus tax breaks for those who invest in those firms. It would also improve links between business and the U-W System. And it has money for worker training. The governor says he strongly supports the package. Lawmakers also gave their final approval to bills that would give tax credits to dairy farmers who expand or modernize their operations – and create two new enterprise zones with tax breaks for industries that locate there.
Mega Millions Jackpot at $166M
4/21/10 - The Mega Millions jackpot is up to 166-million dollars for the next drawing on Friday. Nobody won the top prize last night. And game officials did not immediately say if Wisconsin had any quarter-million-dollar second prize winners. Meanwhile, tonight’s Powerball jackpot is the largest since last August, at 252-million dollars. The cash option is just under 122-million.
4/21/10 - The Dodge County Board awarded the sale of 30-million-dollars in general obligation bonds yesterday that will help fund the reconstruction of the Clearview facility. Bidding for the Build America Bonds opened at 9:30 yesterday morning with the winning bid coming from Robert W. Baird and Company at a rate of 3.219-percent, which is lower than officials initially thought it would be. Coming in second was M&I Bank with a bid of 3.223-percent, just a shade higher than Baird. The board was also informed that because the interest rates were lower than expected they’ll save around $875,000 in debt payments over the 20-year-life of the bonds. Earlier this year the board approved 44.5-million-dollars for the Clearview project and another 8-million for renovation of the Highway Department Facility in Juneau. An additional 15-million-dollars will be borrowed next year to cover the remaining cost of the projects. The money will be paid back over the next 20-years with county sales tax revenue as well as through the operating budgets for both Clearview and the Highway Department.
Senate Says No to Lawsuit over Health Care Reform
4/21/10 - State Senators voted yesterday not to let the attorney general file a lawsuit to stop the national health reform law from taking effect in Wisconsin. Republicans proposed the resolution, but majority Democrats shot it down on an 18-15 party line vote. Attorney General J-B Van Hollen questions the requirement that almost everyone buy health insurance or face fines. Majority Leader Russ Decker said Republicans were standing up for insurance companies instead of siding with the un-insured.
Job Bills Passes Through Senate
4/21/10 - Wisconsin senators have approved the CORE Jobs Bill that would spend 16-million-dollars this year to improve the state’s economy. The package was sent to Governor Jim Doyle yesterday after all Democrats voted yes and all Republican voted no. GOP members were against changes the Assembly made last week to limit some of the incentives to narrow groups of companies, like those that are environmentally-friendly. The bill would also expand tax credits for companies in their early stages, plus tax breaks for those who invest in those firms. It would also improve links between business and the U-W System. And it has money for worker training. The governor says he strongly supports the package. Lawmakers also gave their final approval to bills that would give tax credits to dairy farmers who expand or modernize their operations – and create two new enterprise zones with tax breaks for industries that locate there.
Mega Millions Jackpot at $166M
4/21/10 - The Mega Millions jackpot is up to 166-million dollars for the next drawing on Friday. Nobody won the top prize last night. And game officials did not immediately say if Wisconsin had any quarter-million-dollar second prize winners. Meanwhile, tonight’s Powerball jackpot is the largest since last August, at 252-million dollars. The cash option is just under 122-million.
4/21/10 - Second-term mayor Tom Kennedy told city officials during their reorganizational meeting last night that Beaver Dam has the finest group of alderpersons, department heads and employees that a city could want. Kennedy reappointed Don Neuert as chair of the Administrative Committee and moved Robert Ballweg to the Operations Committee. Ballweg will continue to Chair the Community Development Committee. Aaron Onsrud will be the new face on the Administrative Committee. Laine Meyer will continue to chair the Operations Committee. John Litscher was unanimously elected by his fellow alders to again serve as president of the council.
New Alderperson Seated In Ward Six
4/22/10 - The city of Beaver Dam has a new alderperson in Ward Six. Terese Hiles-Olson was sworn-in last night after a successful write-in campaign. Olson is a 2007 UW graduate who is furthering her education at Madison Area Technical College. She moved to Beaver Dam with her family in 1999 from the Lacrosse-area and her children graduated from Beaver Dam High School. She says her decision to run was spawned from conversations with her neighbors and she’s already talked with constituents about parking issues and the need for a skate park and another dog park. Olson replaces Andrew Westenmeyer who chose not to seek what would have been his first full-term. She received 66 of the 81 write-in votes cast in her ward in the spring election. Olson was appointed last night to sit on the Operations Committee.
Kottke Retains Chair
4/21/10 - Russ Kottke will remain as Dodge County Board Chairman for at least the next two years after he was unanimously reelected by the full board Tuesday. Meanwhile, Dave Frohling beat out Robert Ballweg to become the boards First Vice chairman while Ernie Borchardt was voted in as the Second Vice Chairman. Those three will be joined on the board’s Executive Committee by holdovers Ken Neumann, Larry Bischoff, and Harold Johnson as well as newcomer MaryAnn Miller of Beaver Dam. The board also voted to keep the same highway committee of Johnson, Ed Qualmann, Jeff Schmidt, Chet Caine, and Randy Grebel.
Juneau FD Extinguishes Car Fire
4/21/10 - A 1994 Audi was completely destroyed by fire Tuesday in Juneau. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Wegener says they were called to the Dollar General parking lot off East Center Street just before 9am. When firefighters arrived on scene car was fully engulfed. Attempts by a Dodge County Sheriffs Deputy to extinguish the flames were not successful. No word yet on the cause of the fire but it started in the engine compartment. The owner was not inside the vehicle at the time but was transported from the scene by EMS. The Juneau Fire Department was on the scene for less than one hour.
Lauth Arraigned
4/21/10 - A Beaver Dam man, accused of embezzling over $16,000 from a non-profit conservation organization, entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment Tuesday. Leonard V. Lauth is charged with a felony count of Theft In A Business Setting for allegedly taking the money from the Wings of Wisconsin, Beaver Dam Chapter over a period of several years. The 56-year-old acted as treasurer for the chapter since 1994, but the organization conducted an audit last fall after hearing that Lauth may have been taking money from two other Beaver Dam non-profits where he also served as treasurer. According to the criminal complaint, Lauth admitted to investigators that he (quote) “may have robbed Peter to pay Paul” over the years and said that he has been living month to month and needed the money for medications and other living expenses. He faces up to ten years in prison if convicted. Lauth has court activity on the calendar in June.
Last Surviving Munchkin Laid To Rest
4/21/10 - The last surviving Munchkin from “The Wizard of Oz” was buried Tuesday morning in Jefferson County. Meinhard Raabe’s funeral was held at Immanuel Lutheran Church east of Johnson Creek, where he grew up. At 4-feet-7, Raabe was perfect for his role as the Munchkin coroner in the 1939 classic film, in which he announced the death of the Wicked Witch as Munchkin-land celebrated. He appeared frequently at “Wizard of Oz” festivals throughout the country. And a few years ago, he joined other surviving Munchkins as they were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Meinhard Raabe was also a spokesman for Oscar Mayer of Madison for nearly 30 years.
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