Top Stories April 24th

Residents, Dispatcher Credited for Saving Life


4/24/10 - Three citizens and a 911 operator are being credited with saving the life of a man who had been electrocuted. According to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, they received a call from Fred Stiemsma on April 19th reporting a man was down and not breathing at a business on Airport Road. Communication Officer Dave Zirbel handled the call from Stiemsma, who described the condition of the man as “not good”. Within minutes, as Zirbel talked Stiemsma through an assessment of the individual, emergency responders were dispatched to the scene. Based upon Stiemsma’s answers it was determined that the subject was not breathing and needed CPR. Because no one on scene knew how to conduct CPR Zirbel talked Stiemsma through the steps and he gave those instructions to his wife and another man. Within a couple of minutes, 1st responders were on scene, and after assessing the situation, called for a helicopter that eventually took the victim to a hospital in Madison where he is still recovering. Sheriff Todd Nehls said the incident was another classic case in which a team came together to save a life. Beaver Dam Fire Chief Alan Mannel added, “This was a textbook response from stem to stern.”

Dunham’s Coming to Beaver Dam

4/24/10 - Beaver Dam is getting a new sporting goods store this fall. Managing Partner of the Heritage Village Mall Todd Hedberg says Dunham’s has made a long term commitment to the city and will occupy 32,000 square feet in the mall right next to Boston Store. Hedberg says they hope to open prior to Thanksgiving so they are ready for the Christmas season. Dunham’s operates 164 stores in the Midwest and Northeast part of the country.

BDPD Investigating Counterfeit Bills

4/24/10 - Beaver Dam police are investigating the passing of counterfeit 10-dollar-bills at two area businesses yesterday. Deputy Chief Dan Schubert says two different people used the bills on small purchases but they have not determined if the two are related. He says the bills are not difficult to identify because the printing on the back doesn’t look like normal currency. He says if you feel the bill may not be real, mark it with a counterfeit pen and don’t give it back to the customer. Anyone with information about the counterfeit bills can contact the Beaver Dam Police Department or the anonymous We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.

Clyman Holds Groundbreaking for Wastewater Treatment Plant

4/24/10 - Village officials in Clyman broke ground yesterday on a new wastewater treatment plant. Village President Jeff Wagner called it a “monumental day for Clyman.” The village settled a lawsuit with the Justice Department in February that required them to construct a new $4 million plant, among other upgrades. The village has secured a $1.7 million dollar grant and a low-interest loan from USDA Rural Development for the remaining $2.3 million. Wagner says it’s too early to calculate the cost that will be passed on to utility customers by the USDA loan caps any increase for utility customers at no more than 50%. He says it’s also possible they receive additional grant funding to help repay the costs of the loan. While communities like Columbus and Fall River were able to team-up to construct a new facility, Wagner says efforts by Clyman to enter into a partnership with nearby Reeseville and Lowell were rejected by the DNR. The plant is scheduled to be completed by July of 2011.

Strip Show at University Function Being Investigated

4/24/10 - University of Wisconsin officials in Madison are investigating how a stripper turned up at the school-sanctioned "Black Bag Ball" last Saturday. Dozens of medical students were attending the event at the Memorial Union. The ball is put on by the UW Medical Students Association and funded by the school's Medical Alumni Foundation. The students involved in planning the show have reportedly been identified. An associate dean says the incident is not consistent with the values of the school or the medical profession. A Madison television station reports medical students told it the strip show took place in a quiet area of the Great Hall and was seen by only a few people.

VP Biden in Wisconsin Tuesday

4/24/10 - Two powerful Democratic party leaders visit the state next week. Vice President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner come to Milwaukee Tuesday. Biden and Geithner will talk about Wall Street reform and its effect on middle-class families at an event at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. It will be held at the student union. This will be the vice president's first trip to Wisconsin since the 2008 presidential campaign.

Doyle Won’t Call Special Session for Clean Energy Bill

4/24/10 - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle says he doesn’t plan to call the legislature back for a special session to take up his top priority on clean energy. Doyle says he would “love to see the Clean Energy Jobs Act pass” – and, he says, if he thought there was a realistic possibility that calling them in would get that passed, then he would do it. The bill calls for the state to get 25 percent of its energy from renewable resources by the year 2025. Doyle says he has no doubt this bill will be back. In fact, he says the next governor can’t ignore the importance of Wisconsin jumping on board with Clean Energy Jobs, because the state needs to be seen as a leader. Doyle says there is very strong support in the legislature for these standards.

Robson Leaves Senate for Final Time

4/24/10 - She believes public service is a high calling, saying it has been an honor to serve in the Wisconsin Senate. Following the passage of patient neglect legislation, retiring State Senator Judy Robson noted its importance to nurses such as herself. Robson took the opportunity to bid farewell to her colleagues. The Democrat from Beloit was first elected to the Assembly in 1987. Robson told her colleagues she’s proud of her achievements on the floor, as well as becoming the first woman Democrat to serve both as minority leader and as majority leader in the senate.

Home and Sports Show this Weekend in Waupun

4/24/10 - The Waupun Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual Home and Sports Show this weekend. Chamber Director Kristie Buwalda says the event brings together over 70 vendors representing home improvement, finance and health from across the area. Today’s events kick-off early with the Waupun Area Animal Shelter pancake breakfast from 7am to 11am. There will be home security seminar in the morning along with tips from local golf pro Jeremiah Hoffman. Nationally renowned gardener Melinda Meyers will be the guest speaker in the afternoon. She will be available for book signings after her presentation on “Simple Landscape Makeovers.” There will also be a bench pressing competition this afternoon along with entertainment from Rhythm and Motion Dancers. The event also includes food and beverages along with crafts and games for kids.