Top Stories, June 30th

Scam Targets Columbus Restaurants

6/30/10 - The Columbus Police Department is investigating a scam targeting local businesses. Lt. Dennis Weiner says two separate Columbus restaurants were targeted on Monday but only one fell victim. In both incidents a male caller identified himself as a representative of a local sheriffs department and advised management that an employee was in custody for Operating While Intoxicated and needed to be bailed out. Weiner says to gain trust and appear legitimate the caller gave the name of an actual employee. The caller also said he was a deputy who frequents the restaurant and would be easily identified if seen. In one case, the caller used the last name “Davis.” The caller told the restaurant manager to wire an $800 MoneyGram to a “contracted bail bondsmen” in Georgia. Once received the managers would be able to pick-up their employee at the jail. While one of the restaurant managers became suspicious the other sent the money and realized it was a scam after going to the jail to pick-up the employee.

State Patrol Investigating Head-On Collision

6/30/10 - The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating a head-on collision that occurred Monday afternoon in Jefferson County. Authorities say 39-year-old Priscilla Weihert of Watertown was traveling eastbound on County Road B near Lake Mills when she crossed the centerline and crashed into a westbound vehicle driven by 23-year-old Samantha Jaycna of Watertown. Both drivers sustained life-threatening injuries.

$90K In Jewelry Stolen From Van

6/30/10 - Around $90,000 worth of jewelry was stolen in a smash and grab in Washington County. It happened in the parking lot of a Burger King restaurant in Slinger Sunday night. Witness say they saw the suspect break the window of a cargo van with his elbow, then grab a large duffel bag and drive away in a minivan with out-of-state license plates. The minivan was last seen heading east on State Highway 60. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Slinger Police Department.

Stojetz Sentenced For Back-To-Back OWI’s

6/30/10 - A Beaver Dam man who picked up a child at daycare while drunk will spend two-and-a-half years behind bars. Kevin R. Stojetz was arrested on December 14 for his fourth OWI after staff with the child care facility told authorities that Stojetz was stumbling and smelled of alcohol when he picked-up the child. His blood alcohol level was over three times the legal limit. The 45-year-old was arrested again the next day for his fifth OWI, and again had a child under the age if 16 in his vehicle. In addition to 30 months in prison, Stojetz was sentenced to four years of extended supervision and will have his license revoked for five years followed by a the use of an ignition interlock device on his vehicle for another five years.

One Car, Two OWI’s

Two people in Oshkosh have been arrested for driving drunk in the same car in connection with a hit-and-run crash. It happened just before 1:15am Monday morning. Police said the driver of the car that was hit gave officers the license plate number of the offending vehicle. As officers arrived at the alleged hit-and-run driver’s home, they said they saw two people switching places in the vehicle. The woman who allegedly switched into the driver’s seat was cited for breaking the state’s absolute sobriety law for drivers under 21. The man who was originally driving the vehicle was cited for first time O-W-I. Police are still investigating the hit-and-run crash.

Road Projects On Hold For Holiday

6/30/10 - Wisconsin drivers will have to deal with 21 major road construction projects during the July Fourth weekend, including one in Dodge County. Work crews will be gone, though, since most activity will stop at noon on Friday and resume at 6am next Tuesday. The biggest projects are the re-building of Interstate-94 south of Milwaukee, I-94 east of Madison, Highway 41 at Oshkosh, and Highway 172 in Green Bay. In Dodge County, Highway 33 is closed at County Road A and Trenton Street in Fox Lake. The detour takes travelers up Highway 151 to County A. In Green Lake County, two miles of Highway 44 is closed between Kingston and County H. A 5-mile stretch of US 12 between Lake Delton and Baraboo is also closed. The D-O-T says the heaviest holiday traffic is expected between noon and 8pm both on Friday and Monday. More detailed travel information is available by calling the state’s travel hotline at 5-1-1.

Clearview Groundbreaking Today

6/30/10 - A groundbreaking ceremony will be held Wednesday morning for the new 44.5-million-dollar Clearview Long Term Care and Rehabilitation Facility. Clearview serves the county’s aging population as well as those with behavioral and mental health issues and also has one of only three brain injury rehabilitation centers in the state. The new structure will house 236 beds. The public is invited to the groundbreaking on the Clearview Grounds at 198 Hope Road in Juneau at 10am.

Fort Atkinson Man Honored At All-Star Game

6/30/10 - A Jefferson County man who helps organize soccer programs for disadvantaged kids around the world will be honored at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Fans throughout the country chose Mitch Arnold of Fort Atkinson to be one of thirty “All Stars Among Us.” They’re being honored for serving their communities in extraordinary ways – and there’s one honoree for each of the thirty Major League clubs. Arnold was one of three Milwaukee Brewer nominees. He and the others will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony at the July 13 All-Star Game in Anaheim. Arnold is the founder of the “Peace Is The Goal Foundation,” which puts together soccer programs for needy boys-and-girls and ships soccer equipment worldwide. Fans cast a total of one-point-seven million votes – over twice as many as a year ago.

Concert Series Features “Dang-Its”

6/30/10 - The Beaver Dam Concert In The Park series continues tonight with the Madison-based quintet “The Dang-Its” on the Swan Park band shell stage. Founding member Tom Waselchuk says “The Dang-Its” play modern country, western swing and Americana but will be treating the Beaver Dam crowd to a special tribute to the “golden age of country music.” Waselchuk says the audience can expect a health dose of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, George Jones and Patsy Klein. Summer may have just started but the series is almost halfway over. Still to come: Dangerous Folk, Dante’s Bop and a pair of performances by the Beaver Dam Community Band before the Beaver Dam Community Theater closes out the schedule on August 4. The Concerts In The Park are free and there is plenty of seating. Picnics and dancing are encouraged. The 90 minute performances start at 7pm.