Top Stories, July 30th

Court Orders BDUSD to Respond to Complaint




7/30/10 - August 18th, that's the deadline for the Beaver Dam School District and Superintendent Steve Vessey to turn over most of the records requested recently by a resident or present a written statement to the court proving why they should not have to. That's after a Dodge County judge ruled in favor of Dan Grulke, who filed a lawsuit Wednesday requesting the court force the district into releasing a number of records most of which relate to seven current and former employees. Those include Vessey, former Superintendent's Don Childs and Brian Busler, former Human Resources Director James Orlenko, current high school secretaries Abby Finke and Anne Pearson, and former Associate Principal Bill Loss.
In a statement about the court order an attorney for Grulke, Deborah Meiners, said, "The Wisconsin Supreme Court has recognized that Wisconsin is a "sunshine state" and that the public is entitled to know how school officials and other public officials are conducting public business. We wish Mr. Vessey had complied with the Public Records law in the first place, and we certainly hope that he complies with the court order."
Vessey declined to comment until he had a chance to review the court's decision and speak with legal counsel.
Much of the lawsuit levies accusations against Childs and Vessey, including that they didn't react properly to reports of harassment or discrimination by certain district employees, and also that Childs and others retaliated against an employee who came forward with a complaint. Childs, now the District Administrator in Waupun, strongly denied those accusations.
"There was never any verbal or written claim of bullying or harassment at the high school or any other building in the four years in which I was there," Childs said.


Childs said there was however a complaint filed by an employee about a hostile work environment, but a thorough investigation of the incident turned up no evidence substantiating the claim.


Other items that Grulke said shows the poor management of the human resources department under Vessey and Childs include a lack of staff evaluations. But Childs contends that every administrator during his time in the district was evaluated at some point.


Included among the records asked for in the petition are possible financial settlements with former employees, the performance evaluations of a number of current and former district workers, and any documents resulting from investigations into alleged conduct by certain staff members.

LaHood on Rail: ‘Can’t Be Stopped’

7/30/10 - State and federal officials were in Watertown yesterday (Th) to announce that Wisconsin will receive a second round of stimulus funding totaling $46.5 million for the planned high speed rail program. Governor Jim Doyle says the over the next two and-a-half years, over 5500 construction workers, engineers, machine operators and others will be working to make track improvements, build train stations and improve roads around the tracks. U-S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says high speed rail is a game changer for Wisconsin that will also reduce or dependence on foreign oil.

LaHood also said there’s no way a new governor will stop the high-speed train. Both major Republican candidates for governor – Scott Walker and Mark Neumann – have threatened to scrap the new line if they’re elected in November. And Walker repeated yesterday that he would definitely shut it down, regardless of how much has been spent on it. He says most people will choose the cheaper route of driving between Milwaukee-and-Madison, while taxpayers cover the empty seats. Walker says the state faces a lot of other transportation needs, in the face of an expected two-and-a-half billion-dollar deficit in the next state budget. But LaHood brushed off those concerns. He says high-speed rail is a national program that will survive political leadership changes.

In January, it was announced that the state was awarded 810-million federal stimulus dollars to build the new high-speed train from Milwaukee-to-Madison – and another $12 million to shore up the tracks for Amtrak’s existing high-speed line from Milwaukee-to-Chicago. One million will be allocated to make final determinations on a route between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities, as part of a plan to connect Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison with the Twin Cities. Watertown is one of the stops for the 79-mile-an-hour train.

AG Comments On Private Emails

7/30/10 - Wisconsin’s attorney general is telling state-and-local officials not to abuse their new ability to keep personal e-mails secret on their tax-funded computers. The State Supreme Court ruled two weeks ago that it was okay for Wisconsin Rapids school teachers not to release personal e-mails on their work computers. But Attorney General J-B Van Hollen says that if any part of an e-mail sheds light on government business, it must be released – and any personal information in those notes can be blacked out. Van Hollen released a memo on the subject yesterday, after concerns were raised that state-and-local officials will use the court ruling to hide important business or corruption just by putting personal nuggets in their messages. Van Hollen says anyone concerned about a misuse of public time or resources should ask for records that could reveal the abuse. And he said people can still get statistical information about the number of e-mails from a government computer, and when they’re sent.

From Idol To Log Jam

7/30/10 - A Beaver Dam woman says the experience she gained during the recent American Idol auditions in Milwaukee just might help her get to Nashville. Chelli Wuesthoff was one of three contestants from Dodge County who advanced to the first round of the “Country’s Hottest Star” competition taking place during this weekends Log Jam Festival in Phillips. While she did not advance in the Idol competition, she says it was good practice. Wuesthoff has three different songs planned for this weekend and if she makes it to the final round on Sunday, she will perform “Gun Powder and Lead” by Miranda Lambert with a live band on the main stage. The winner will head to Nashville, where they will perform with musician Cowboy Troy at the Hard Rock Café.

Ripon Roulette

7/30/10 - Authorities said a woman from Ripon unknowingly helped a Russian militia group obtain military weapons and other illegal goods. Officers were investigating credit card fraud earlier this month, when they found that a number of packages were being sent to the woman’s home. Police confiscated about 20 packages – and they contained sniper scopes for rifles, and other illegal military equipment. And it was all bought with credit card numbers that were stolen. According to Ripon Police, the woman thought she was doing good. She said an on-line temporary job agency hired her to re-ship packages – and she thought she was helping an orphanage in Russia. The F-B-I and other federal agencies are now involved in the investigation. But Ripon Police Chief Dave Lukoski does not believe she’ll be charged with any crimes.

Martens Appointed To Election Fraud Task Force

7/30/10 - The state Justice Department is trying to get more counties to prosecute election fraud. Attorney General J-B Van Hollen announced Thursday that eleven district attorneys, including Washington County’s Todd Martens, have agreed to serve on a task force that routinely seeks charges for election law violations. Van Hollen, a Republican, says the group will try to create a uniform statewide enforcement of laws against registration fraud, voting twice, and voting while still on probation-or-parole as a convicted felon. Van Hollen says some counties do not make those crimes a priority – and it might be because they’re under-staffed, or they’re not familiar with the state’s election laws.

Indian Logo’s Under Fire Again

7/30/10 - The state’s education department is thinking about making all 35 Wisconsin schools with Indian mascots and logos prove that they don’t discriminate. A state law passed in May allowed the Department of Public Instruction to make schools change their Indian monikers if the agency believes they’re racist. The law created a system in which residents must file complaints before the D-P-I could review the nick-names. But at a hearing yesterday (Th), department officials said they wanted to list all the school names-and-mascots it believes are discriminatory – and then make all those schools defend themselves, whether a complaint is filed or not. Earlier this week, the D-P-I ordered the Osseo-Fairchild School District to drop its Chieftains logo and mascot. Similar complaints are pending in Oconomowoc and Kewaunee. Under the law, schools found to be discriminatory must change their logos-and-nicknames in a year – or face possible fines of up to a-thousand-dollars a day.

Roush At Mayo

7/30/10 - NASCAR team owner Jack Roush has been moved from a hospital in Neenah to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. That’s where he’ll continue his treatment for facial injuries suffered in a crash-landing of his airplane on Tuesday night at the E-A-A’s Air-Venture show in Oshkosh. Roush Fenway Racing says that the 68-year-old Roush had surgery Tuesday night in Neenah, and was transferred to Mayo Wednesday night. Roush’s corporate jet broke in two as it crash-landed at the E-A-A. The National Transportation Safety Board is looking into the incident.

Property Taxes Due

7/30/10 - Dodge County Treasurer Patti Hilker is reminding taxpayers who postponed the second installment of their property taxes that the balance must be paid on or before July 31. However, because the deadline falls on a Saturday this year, Hilker says her office will accept payments on Monday, August 2 without penalty. Because post offices are open on Saturday’s though she expects letters to be postmarked no later than July 31. She also says to make sure you check the balance of your first installment receipt to ensure proper payment because your second payment is not the same as your first payment…as the first payment may have been reduced by lottery credit. Payments can be made online with a credit card or electronic check at www.witreasurers.org, by telephone at 800-272-9829 or at the treasurers office, 127 East Oak Street in Juneau. Taxpayers mailing after the deadline are subject to interest and a penalty of ten point five percent (10.5%)… and for the second installment that is retroactive to February 1.

We Energies Posts 39% Increase In Profit

7/30/10 - The owner of Wisconsin’s largest electric utility reports a 39-percent increase in its quarterly profits. Wisconsin Energy of Milwaukee, which operates as We Energies, netted almost 89-million dollars from April-through-June, compared to 64-million at the same time a year ago. C-E-O Gale Klappa said We Energies, which serves much of southern and far eastern Dodge County, benefited from stronger economic activity over the past three months. Large business-and-industrial customers used 14-percent more electricity in the second quarter than it did the year before. Small firms used almost five-percent more. And homes used almost two-percent more electricity, due mainly to a warmer-than-normal spring. A good share of We Energies’ higher profits was due to the opening of its new coal-fired power plant in Oak Creek.

Seat Belts Usage Up

7/30/10 - Seat belt use is at an all-time high in Wisconsin. That’s according to the State Patrol, which found that 79-percent of motorists in its annual survey are following the law and buckling up. That’s a six-percent increase from a year ago. And Patrol Major Dan Lonsdorf credits the law passed last year in which police no longer have to find other violations before stopping motorists for not buckling up. Also, Lonsdorf says campaigns “Click It or Ticket” are motivating people to wear their seat belts. The survey says young drivers are the biggest violators, with only 69-percent buckling up. Also, 80-percent of women follow the law which just 72-percent of men do. And Metro Milwaukee – the place with the highest traffic – has the lowest compliance in the state at 71-percent.

Top Stories, July 29th

Jury Finds Waupun Man Guilty of Child Abuse

7/29/10 - A Dodge County jury found a Waupun man guilty Tuesday of burning a young child with a lit cigarette. After six hours of deliberation, the two-day trial ended with Daniel Bryan convicted of felony Child Abuse. The 8-year-old was burned last July as punishment for kicking Bryan during horseplay. The boy first told his mother that he got the injury from a fall out of a wagon, but later said the defendant blew on the end of his lit cigarette until it got “cherry red” then extinguished it on the boy’s right elbow. At trial, the boy switched his story back to a wagon fall. Dodge County District Attorney Bill Bedker countered with testimony from Dr. Barbara Knox, a child abuse expert from UW Children’s Hospital Madison, who examined photographs of the boy’s elbow injury and determined that the injury was definitely consistent with a cigarette burn. Bedker said that in light of the change in the boy’s story, Dr. Knox’s medical testimony was crucial. Bedker says the boy was naturally trying to protect the defendant but Dr. Knox is one of the foremost child abuse experts in the country and she said that this was a hold-on cigarette burn injury. The 34-year-old is free on bail pending a sentencing hearing which will be held within 90 days. Bryan faces up to eight years in prison.

Juveniles Charged With Shed Fire

7/29/10 - Columbus authorities say a fire that destroyed a large shed Tuesday night was started by two juveniles. Lieutenant Dennis Weiner says a witness identified the kids, who both later admitted being in the building and starting the fire. Weiner says the 13-year-old and 10-year-old were in the shed on North Ludington just before 9pm, lighting matches and sticking the hot tips into sheets of Styrofoam insulation. The two then lit some balled up plastic, which turned into a fiery liquid and spread quickly. They were not able to put out the flames and quickly exited the building. Weiner says the two walked downtown and watched as emergency responders headed to the fire. A witness provided a very specific description of the younger suspect, which led them to the older child. The shed is owned R&R Construction of Columbus and was filled with construction materials, building supplies and two antique vehicles. The building and its contents were a total loss. Both juveniles are being referred to Columbia County Juvenile Court on one count each of Negligent Handling of Burning Materials and Criminal Trespass. Additional charges are possible.

Horicon Adds Stop Sign Near John Deere

7/29/10 - Horicon Mayor Jim Grigg cast the tie-breaking vote this week to turn a one-way stop into a three-way stop at one of the busier intersections in the city. Citing years of complaints from residents about the speed and noise of trucks coming and going from John Deere, the city approved the placement of stops signs going north and south at the intersection of Vine Street and East Maple Street. Prior to the vote a number of John Deere employees spoke against the placement saying the stopping and starting of the trucks would create more noise and possibly damage Vine Street, which was just resurfaced. Congestion during shift changes was also mentioned.

Kennedy on Flooding

7/29/10 - Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy told the Operations Committee this week that the city is fortunate to have come through the recent round of rains with minimal problems. He says when you get a lot of rain in a short amount of time, there is going to be localized flooding. Less than a half dozen streets were identified as having traditional flooding problems. The mayor says a flooded street is an inconvenience that eventually goes away but officials will do everything that can be done to deal with issue. He says the job of the city is to eliminate flood damage to private property and prioritize repairs and upgrades as time and money allows. The recently implemented Storm Water Utility was mentioned as a new way to help fund flood-control projects in the future.

Madison Street Guard Rail Update

7/29/10 - City officials in Beaver Dam plan to discuss the safety of the guard rails on the Madison Street Bridge later this year. A woman drove her vehicle off the bridge and into the river below on Sunday, the latest of several such accidents. Operations Committee Chair Laine Meyer says if there was a true problem it would have been addressed as part of yearly inspections by the DOT. He says though it could always be better. The city is also trying to see if designs that are currently in the works for the Center Street Bridge can be integrated into a redesign of the Madison Street Bridge, which Meyer says could save a fair amount of design dollars. In the meantime, Director of Facilities David Stoiser says the damaged guard rail is being repaired. He says they plan on staggering the posts of the guardrail so that they don’t keep getting replaced on the same section of repaired concrete. The matter is expected to be revisited when city officials begin work on next year’s budget.

White Hired As Associate Principal

7/29/10- The Beaver Dam School Board approved the hiring of a new associate high school principal this week. Superintendent Steve Vessey says Nicole White will join Bill Greymont and Mary Klawitter as associates to new principal Mark DiStefano. White was most recently in the Cambria-Friesland School District and Vessey says much of her work will involve getting the upperclassmen ready for post-secondary education and implementing the districts initiatives to improve AP and ACT test scores.

Business Break-In Reported

7/29/10 - Authorities are investigating a vandalism report at a Town of Beaver Dam business. According to the Dodge County Sheriff Department, an employee at Don Cigelske Transmission reported that a window at the Madison Street businesses had been broken Monday night or Tuesday morning. Nothing was missing from inside. There were also four customer vehicles that were broken into. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department or the anonymous We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.

Bankruptcy Filings Up

7/29/10 - The number of Wisconsinites filing for bankruptcy keeps growing. Just over 16-thousand bankruptcy petitions were filed in federal courts in the first half of this year. That’s 16-percent more than the same period a year ago, when just under 14-thousand claimed bankruptcy. Eighty-two percent of the new cases were filed under Chapter-Seven – which lets individuals wipe out consumer debts like medical bills and credit card balances. The increase in Wisconsin bankruptcies was slightly higher than the national trend. The American Bankruptcy Institute said consumer filings rose 14-percent from January-through-June. The institute blames rising consumer debts, lower savings rates, high unemployment, and the recent housing slump.

Top Stories, July 28th

BDPFC Proceeds To Chief Interviews

7/28/10 - The Beaver Dam Police and Fire Commission held a special meeting in closed session last night to discuss the search for a new police chief. A consultant firm provided the city with 14 candidates to replace retired Chief Dale Bolt and the PFC has narrowed the field to six finalists with one alternate. Interviews with the remaining candidates will take place in closed session on August 13 and 14.

Race To Top Rejected

7/28/10 - Wisconsin was rejected in its second effort to get a quarter-billion dollars in federal stimulus money to improve its public schools. The Badger State was not on the list of 19 states and Washington D-C that are finalists to receive the Race To The Top grants. When Wisconsin was snubbed earlier this year, federal evaluators said officials did not get enough input from teachers’ unions throughout the state. This time, Governor Jim Doyle had said he bent over backwards to give the unions and others input into what the state would do with the money. Among other things, they came up with a system to improve the public schools in Milwaukee – which has most of the lowest-performing schools in the state. Only Delaware and Tennessee got funded the first time. Wisconsin’s application was rated the 26th best of the 40 states which applied.

Litscher Excited About Revisiting Supt Position

7/28/10 - The incoming Superintendent of the Cambria-Friesland School District says he is excited about the upcoming school year and looks forward to the challenges. The school board this week approved a one-year, part-time contract with Jon Litscher, who spent 21 years in education before settling into a state job under Governor Thompson. Litscher had previously served as Superintendent in Waupun, Lake Mills and also Cambria Friesland. In the half-time position Litscher will work two and a half days per week; three days when there is a school board meeting. Litscher is also a Beaver Dam Alderman and while meeting nights may conflict on occasion, he says it should have no effect on his ability to serve his constituents. The contract runs through next June.

FEMA in Milwaukee Today

7/28/10 - Federal disaster inspectors will visit flood-ravaged Milwaukee as early as today. The sheriff’s department says a team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is now due in Wednesday, to see if last week’s flood damage qualifies for federal disaster aid. Governor Jim Doyle’s office originally said a FEMA team would not be in the state until next Monday. But Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Sheriff David Clarke, and other local leaders had accused the state of moving too slowly to help their community. State emergency management officials said they were still working with other Wisconsin counties to determine their flood losses. Normally, the governor doesn’t seek disaster aid until he gets a final statewide damage total. Milwaukee County submitted its damage figures last Friday, at 28-and-a-half million dollars. They then updated that figure yesterday to 37-and-a-half million.

Three Minor Injuries in Wreck

7/28/10 - Three people were transported from the scene of a two-vehicle accident Tuesday in Beaver Dam. The car versus SUV collision was reported at 9:55am at the intersection of Beichl and Wayland Street. The Beaver Dam Fire Department responded to assist EMS personnel and for fluid clean-up. The three were transported to the Beaver Dam Community Hospital with minor injuries.

Top Stories, July 27th

Vo-Tech Name Change Fails

7/27/10 - A request to change the name of Beaver Dam’s “Vo-Tech Park” did not make it out of committee last night. Josh Bullock, Vice President of Strategic Advancement at Moraine Park Technical College, says the park located off of Prospect Avenue at Highway 151 was named for Beaver Dam Vocational School and Technical Institute. He says changing the name to “College Park” would better reflect the changes in the schools name and mission. Operations Committee Chair Laine Meyer suggested naming the park after Beaver Dam Mayor Mary Spellman because she was not only an educator but also the first female mayor in the state. There were also suggestions to name the park after film star Fred MacMurray, or the Otto family who have spear-headed local youth baseball and softball for decades. “School Park” and “Education Park” were also considered because of the proximity to both the technical College and the high school. After extensive debate, the vote to change the name to “Spellman Park” failed 3 to 2.

BD Considers Limited Access To Burnett, Oneida Inlets

7/27/10 - City officials in Beaver Dam are considering plans to prohibit vehicle access to the lake on two dead-end streets. Both Oneida and Burnett Streets are popular for fishing and lake viewing, so much so that neighbors of the inlets are complaining of all-night camping, bonfires and public urination. The Operations Committee last night approved moving forward with design options for adding curb and gutter, sidewalk, lighting and signage.

Charges Filed In Drunken High Speed Chase

7/27/10 - A Madison man could spend up to 33 years in prison for allegedly leading Dodge County deputies on a drunken high-speed chase that ended with himself and a passenger at UW Hospital in Madison. 29-year-old Anthony Pekarske faces felony charges of Reckless Endangerment, Fleeing and OWI Causing Injury along with a pair of misdemeanors related to the incident in May of 2009. Authorities say they clocked Pekarske’s Ford Mustang traveling 73mph in a 55mph zone on Highway 33 at Highway 26. After a nine-mile pursuit that reportedly reached speeds of 130mph, the vehicle crashed in the median on Highway 151 and Hemlock Road. Pekarske and a passenger were both ejected and sustained serious injury. His blood alcohol level was said to be over twice the legal limit for driving. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for September. If convicted, Pekarske faces up to 33 years in prison.

Markesan Man Charged In Two Separate Chases

7/27/10 - A Markesan man is charged in Dodge County with running from police. Sheriffs deputies on patrol in Fox Lake attempted to pull over a vehicle allegedly driven by Benjamin Wills on May 30 after receiving reports from Green Lake County that he had fled from them earlier in the evening. Dodge County deputies say the 27-year-old fled at a high rate of speed and crashed into a front end loader in the Highway 33 construction zone. Wills and another man reportedly fled on foot. According to the criminal complaint, Wills went to a convenience store and called police to report his vehicle stolen. Authorities say they have both a witness and video footage showing Wills exit the vehicle after the accident. The felony charge carries a maximum three-and-a-half years in prison but because Wills is a repeat offender, he could have up to four years added to the sentence. Cash bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 4. The next morning, Wills has a plea and sentencing hearing in a Green Lake County courtroom on felony Fleeing charges from earlier that evening.

River Rescue Misunderstanding

7/27/10 - Fox Lake authorities spent part of their (Monday) morning searching the river after a resident reported hearing a yell for help around 6:30 a-m. Fox Lake Police Chief Jim Rohr says they searched both sides of the river from the State Street Bridge down to the dam twice but didn’t find anything to indicate someone had gone into the river. Rohr says the mystery was solved a couple hours later after a 9-1-1 call sent EMS to a home in the area of Seminary Street and Rechek Drive by the river. A home owner there had suffered a heart attack and Rohr believes he was the person who the woman had heard earlier calling for help. The man was taken to the Waupun Hospital for treatment.

Woman Charged With OWI In River Crash

7/27/10 - Alcohol played a factor in a crash that sent a 58-year-old Beaver Dam woman and her vehicle into the Beaver Dam River last night. It happened just before 9 p-m at the Beaver Street Bridge downtown. Police say Carrie Nelson Wapneski was driving north on Madison Street when she lost control of the SUV, went through the guardrail, and landed upside down in the river. Beaver Dam Police Sgt. Eric Feucht tells us that when he arrived on scene there were already three emergency responders in the water. Feucht jumped in and he and four others were able to flip the GMC Trailblazer upright while Nelson-Wapneski was pulled to safety. She was taken to the Beaver Dam Hospital and later cited for OWI.

Top Stories, July 26th

SUV Plunges Off Beaver Street Bridge

7/26/10 - A woman was pulled from the wreckage of an SUV that plunged into the river in downtown Beaver Dam last night. Authorities were called out at 8:50pm to the Beaver Street Bridge. The vehicle crashed through the guardrail where Madison Street turns into Beaver Street, right behind Park Plaza Pizza. Beaver Dam Police Sgt. Eric Feucht tells us that when he arrived on scene there were already three emergency responders in the water. Feucht jumped in and he and four others were able to flip the GMC Trailblazer upright while the unidentified driver was pulled to safety. She was the lone occupant and was transported to the Beaver Dam Community Hospital. Her condition is not immediately known.

Beaver Dam Couple Sentenced For NYE Battery

7/26/10 - A Beaver Dam couple was sentenced Friday on charges of Battery and Criminal Damage To Property in connection with a New Years Eve incident that involved stolen money. 19-year-old’s Jacob Kenning and Angelica Thairuammit were at the victim’s residence when a disagreement erupted over the missing money. Kenning admitted that he caused bodily harm to the victim while accusing him of stealing the money, and the battery continued until the victim’s sister came to the house with cash. In the meantime, both Kenning and Thairuammit destroyed several of the victim’s belongings and broke the door to his bedroom when he tried to get away. Kenning was sentenced to 30 days in jail with work release privileges and was placed on probation for two years. Thairuammit was ordered to complete one year of probation. Both must pay restitution. Since neither had a previous record, they could have the convictions expunged following the successful completion of probation.

On The Stage: BDACT Summer Show “Carousel”

7/26/10 - A longtime director with the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater is bringing a timeless Rogers and Hammerstein classic back to the stage for another generation. After a six-year break, Earl Ritter is back in the director’s chair for the summer production of “Carousel.” The Horicon-native has directed over thirty shows for the Beaver Dam Community Theater, Marais Players of Mayville and at the Horicon High School. Ritter first directed Carousel twenty years ago in a BDACT summer production that took place at the Spring Street theatre.

Ritter chose Carousel again because "I thought the show gave the theatre an opportunity to put on a family production on stage and for the audience. The cast calls for a wide range of ages children to mature adults. As a matter of fact I planned on casting the children’s' parts from adult cast families. I also thought the community would appreciate the show as a family event and with the lower ticket prices I think we are trying to encourage just that." Ritter was able to put the experience of directing the show twenty years ago to work for him. "When I first did the show in 1990, it was at the Spring St. theatre. Moving to the high school auditorium has opened up possibilities in staging and technical aspects I never had before with this show."

There are other 'second timers' in this summer's show. Co-producer Judy Pearce was producer of the 1990 and 2010 production. Sarah Teschke, 2010 orchestra director, was on stage with her son, Christopher in the 1990 version. John Kraft, of Good Karma Broadcasting, was in the lead role of Billy Bigelow in 1990. For the 2010 show he wrote and voiced the radio ad for the show. Jerry Kamps assisted with set construction and painting in both shows. Jean Hayden was the make-up chair in 1990 and is in charge of costuming this summer. Other familiar BDACT faces in the 1990 show were Ralph Wiedenhoeft, Rodney Binder and Jim McMillan. Co-producer Sheri Born states, "We would like to invite cast and crew of the 1990 show to this summer's production. Please let us know if and when you are coming." Born can be contacted at 885-5285.

Advanced tickets are $14, or $12 for those under age 12 or over 65 and available at Rechek’s Food Pride. Photo Caption: Participants in 1990 and 2010 Carousel productions. Jerry Kamps, sets, Sarah Teschke cast (1990)/pit director (2010), Judy Pearce, producer; Earl Ritter, director; Jean Hayden hair/make up (1990) / costumes (2010).

Governor Seeking Dodge County DA Applicants

7/26/10 - The governor’s office has begun accepting applications to fill the seat of outgoing Dodge County District Attorney Bill Bedker, who is resigning midway through his term. The applicant must be a member in good standing of the state Bar Association and must reside in Dodge County at the time the appointment becomes effective. Applications need to be turned into the governor’s office no later than August 5. Contact information is available on our website. Office of the Governor Attention: Libby Gerds, Appointments Director, PO Box 7836, Madison, WI 53707-7863 Elizabeth.Gerds@wisconsin.gov

$450 Alcohol Abuse Grant To Consortium

7/26/10 - The Beaver Dam School District is slated to receive a $450,000 Alcohol Abuse Reduction Grant. Superintendent Steve Vessey says the funds from the US Department of Education will be used as part of the Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative that also includes five other Dodge County-area districts. Vessey says a key component of the grant is the Student Assistance Program, which utilizes trained staff to directly help students with alcohol abuse problems. It is anticipated that the grant will be renewed for a total of three years.

Top Stories, July 25th

Columbia County Assessing Storm Damage

7/25/10 - Emergency Management officials in Columbia County are assessing the damage that resulted from the recent round of heavy rains. Emergency Management Director Patrick Beghin says the current flooding conditions experienced in some communities have caused damage to some residence and property. Columbia County Emergency Management is conducting a preliminary damage assessment and is asking those who have damage from the flooding to contact their offices. Contact information is available on our website. Flood clean up kits will also be available upon request.

Call 608-742-4166 ext 1309 or ext. 1308 and report the damage. They are asking for assistance in the damage assessment and require the following information: The address of the property; How high the water came into the structure. Basement flooding, sewer backup ect; If it is a seasonal or permanent residence; Estimated dollar amount of damage; If you had flood insurance.

Officials in Columbus dodged a bullet this weekend. With heavy rain in the forecast, officials were taking precautions Friday night and Saturday morning with sandbagging efforts, and there was talk of closing River Road if they got the amount of rain predicted. That didn’t happen. Public Information Officer Jerrod Fox says all roads are open, and there does not appear to be any major flooding concerns. Columbus officials are also reminding residents that they can stay up to date with what’s going on by registering at nixle.com. The Nixle system allows for the city to send warnings via email or text message.

Milwaukee County Storm Damage At $28 Million

7/25/10 - Milwaukee County emergency management officials put the storm damage from Thursday's heavy rain and flooding at 28 million dollars. Nearly six inches of rain fell in less than two hours. The damage has led Governor Jim Doyle to declare a state of emergency in the county. The National Weather Service has confirmed four tornadoes in that storm. More storms Saturday hit Argyle in southwestern Wisconsin with 4-point-4 inches of rain. Darlington got 3-point-9. Seven inches of rain fell in Chicago and in eastern Iowa the New Delhi dam failed, causing the water level to drop 45 feet and threatening the nearby town of Hopkinton.

B&E At Mischler’s Highway 33

7/25/10 - Someone broke into Mischler’s Highway 33 Power Center in the Town of Beaver Dam this weekend. According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, the breaking and entering was reported yesterday morning and the break-in would have occurred after business hours Friday night or yesterday morning. The Mischler’s Highway 33 Power Center is located at N8077 Highway 33. A window was broken to gain access and approximately $150 worth of items was stolen. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dodge County Sheriffs Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

Unemployment Payments On Their Way

7/25/10 - Approval of additional unemployment benefits from Congress will immediately help dislocated workers in Rock County. Earlier this week, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development named Beloit as the city with the highest unemployment rate in the state. According to DWD, Wisconsin has over 66,000 individuals whose payments ended as a result of the earlier expiration of the programs and it will take several days to make payment to those individuals. The jobless rate in Dodge County sits at 8.2%, just a click above the statewide average of 8.1%. Jefferson County is at 8.8%, while Washington County is 7.9%. Columbia County is at 7.5%.

Factory Jobs Increase

7/25/10 - A statewide group that gives advice to factories said it helped create 337 jobs in Wisconsin last year, and kept another 636 jobs from being eliminated. The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership said 264 companies asked for its help. The partnership’s director, Mike Klonsinski, said his group often tried to strengthen small manufacturers to keep them from dying in the recession. He said many firms diversified their product lines to attract new customers, even while seeing reductions in orders for their established items. In past years, Klonsinski said his group helped create more jobs than they helped retain. But in 2009, he said the goal was to preserve what the state has. The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership has 45 employees with an eight-million-dollar annual budget.

Oil Refinery For Sale

7/25/10 - Would you like to own an oil refinery? The only one in Wisconsin is offered for sale by Murphy Oil Corporation. Murphy’s Board of Directors has approved plans for exiting the refining businesses to focus on “Upstream” retail sales. Murphy reports it anticipates selling the operation in Superior -- and two others -- in the first quarter of next year. Murphy employs over 150 people at the Superior Refinery, which began operating in 1950. The company also has terminals in several Wisconsin communities, including Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay.

Republican Candidacy Called Into Question By GOP

7/25/10 - The chairman of the Republican Party of Manitowoc County, sees a problem with the candidacy of Andrew Wisniewski, a GOP candidate in the state’s 25th Assembly District. Don Zimmer says the party thinks Wisniewski is not really a Republican and that this is a ploy by the Democrats to take votes away from incumbent Bob Ziegelbaur who recently left the Democratic Party to declare himself an Independent. This week the Government Accountability Board ruled Wisniewski did not have enough valid signatures to be on the ballot, but reversed itself the next day. Zimmer finds fault with the Wisniewski campaign, saying their treating the political process like it’s a joke.

Wisconsin Congressional Seats Projected Unchanged

7/25/10 - Congressional seats get reapportioned among the states every decade to make sure that they're roughly equal in population. Some states end up losing seats. Some states gain. At a forum on redistricting, UW-Madison Political Science Professor Ken Mayer said that won't happen to Wisconsin this year. He puts the odds of gaining or losing a seat at zero. Mayer says you can predict reapportionment fairly well into the future based on population trends. He says “the places that will lose seats are probably states in the northeast and the rust belt and the states that gain are Florida, Texas, California. But the Census Bureau uses a very set determined formula and Wisconsin is nowhere close to where it would need to be to lose a seat."

Zimmerman Family Drops Wrongful Death Claim

7/25/10 - The family of a murdered U-W Madison student now says it will not pursue a wrongful death claim against Dane County. Instead, relatives of Brittany Zimmermann will try to show that the county was responsible for emotional distress she suffered before she died. The 21-year-old Zimmermann, who’s from Marshfield, was stabbed and strangled in her Madison apartment in April of 2008. Her family said Dane County’s dispatch center botched a 9-1-1 call Zimmermann made just before she died – and police never responded until her fiancée called later on. A judge delayed the wrongful death suit three weeks ago until police could finish its investigation. They’re still looking for Zimmermann’s killer. Family attorney Robert Elliott said the family had to make a choice between the wrongful death and the emotional distress claims. He would not be more specific. The family is also suing the owner of Zimmermann’s apartment building, saying more should have been done to guard her safety. A trial in the case is set for December. Yesterday, a state appeals court said Zimmermann’s fiancée – Jordan Gonnering – could not be part of the family’s legal action because he’s not directly related.

Milwaukee Police Officers Caught In Sting

7/25/10 - Two Milwaukee police officers are caught in a federal sting and are now accused of covering for drug dealers. Sergeant Royce Lockett and officer Paul Hill will have a hearing soon to decide whether they qualify for a court-appointed attorney. Lockett is accused of helping the dealer when he said he was having problems with a vehicle he was using to transport at least 500 grams of cocaine. If convicted, Lockett could get up to 40 years in prison. Hill could spend up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of helping conceal the proceeds of an alleged drug deal.

Whooping Crane Chicks Unaccounted For

7/25/10 - Five of the seven whooping crane chicks that were hatched this year in a central Wisconsin wildlife refuge have apparently died, but the crane migration will go ahead this fall. The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership has had trouble getting the cranes to reproduce in the wild at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. This spring, seven crane chicks hatched, but the International Crane Foundation says one of the young birds has been found dead, and a federal team is trying to determine the cause. Crane Foundation spokeswoman Joan Garland says four other chicks are missing, possibly killed by coyotes, raccoons, eagles or other species. She says if the two remaining chicks survive, it's hoped they will be among the 24 birds migrating south for the first time this fall, either behind older cranes or ultra light aircraft.

Top Stories July 24th

Storm Coverage

7/24/10 - Most of the heavy rain stayed to our south overnight, but we are still under a flash flood watch until 10 a-m. There are also flood warnings on a number of area rivers. In Waupun, the Rock River was about a half-inch above flood stage as of 7 a-m but the water was receding. The National Weather Service says floodwaters were affecting a park near the river as well as a few minor roadways. In Watertown, the Rock River is expected to rise above flood stage by the early afternoon tomorrow before cresting on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Crawfish River at Milford in northern Jefferson County was sitting just shy of the flood stage of 7-feet this morning. Forecasters predict the river will rise above flood stage this afternoon and continue to rise before cresting sometime Wednesday around 9-feet.

Officials in Columbus say they dodged a huge bullet. With heavy rain projected in the overnight hours, officials were taking precautions with sandbagging efforts, and there was talk of closing River Road if they got the amount of rain predicted. However, that didn't happen and Public Information Officer Jerrod Fox says all roads are open, and there doesn't appear to be any major flooding concerns. The city is also reminding residents that they can stay up to date with what's going on by registering at nixle.com. The Nixle system allows for the city to send warnings via email or text message.

Other parts of the state are still suffering the effects of the heavy rainfall and flooding from Thursday night. Governor Jim Doyle made a disaster declaration for Milwaukee County. Extensive damage reports were received throughout the Milwaukee Metropolitan Area. The governor's declaration directs state agencies to help local government with their recovery efforts. Damage will be assessed. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has asked the governor to petition for federal aid. Emergency responders report they received more than 500 calls for some kind of help.

Meanwhile, that strong storm shut operations down for hours at Mitchell International Airport Thursday night and Friday morning. Flights didn't going again until about 1 p-m yesterday. Both commercial runways had been covered with water after almost eight inches of rain fell in a two-hour period Thursday night. Two people were hospitalized after being hit by lightning strikes as part of the storms. The National Weather Service reported tornado touchdowns near Whitewater and between Palmyra and Muskego. State emergency management officials estimate up to a half-dozen tornadoes may have touched down during the storms, but no damage or injuries were associated with those incidents.

Doyle Seeks Applicants for Dodge Co. DA

7/24/10 - Governor Jim Doyle announced yesterday that he is seeking applicants for appointment as district attorney in Dodge County. The appointment will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Bill Bedker. The new district attorney will begin serving in August. An applicant must be a member in good standing of the Bar of the State of Wisconsin and must reside in Dodge County at the time the appointment becomes effective. Those interested may obtain an application form from the governor's office. The forms must be returned no later than August 5. Contact information is below.

Office of the Governor Attention: Libby Gerds, Appointments Director, PO Box 7836, Madison, WI 53707-7863 Elizabeth.Gerds@wisconsin.gov

BDUSD Gets Grant

7/24/10 - The U.S. Department of Education has selected the Beaver Dam Unified School District to receive $450,000 in funding under the Alcohol Abuse Reduction Grants Program. Supt Steve Vessey says the grant will be used as part of the Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative that also includes five other Dodge County area schools. The grant is for use beginning August 2 and continuing through August 1, 2011. It is anticipated that the grant will be renewed for a total of three years.

Unemployment Checks Being Set Out

7/24/10 - The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development works furiously to send out thousands of unemployment checks after Congress approved an extension of benefits. Between Thursday and next Monday, the state estimates it will have processed nearly 30 thousand checks. The department reports it hopes to have checks mailed to all of the 69 thousand people eligible by the end of the month. Those checks will be for benefits retroactive to June 2.

DNR Looking for Input on CWD

7/24/10 - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says it will take public comments on the changes it has made to its Chronic Wasting Disease plan through August 8. A five-year plan was introduced last summer calling for working with agriculture officials to monitor populations, stop carcass movement out of CWD zones and put in place a statewide ban on baiting and feeding. This latest plans expands to 15 years. The DNR says it is going to work with a PR firm to better understand public opinions on the disease.

Budget Won't Allow UW-System to Match Teacher Salaries
7/24/10 - A state budget shortfall expected to reach two and a half billion dollars is cited as the reason the University of Wisconsin system won't try to match salaries at rival schools. But, the system is going to ask the state to end employee furloughs next year and restore two percent pay raises taken away from faculty and staff. New system CEO Michael Morgan says restoring the raises is a matter of equity, since union employees didn't have to give them up. A system spokesman says ending furloughs is also a priority at this time.

Group Looks to Cut Funding in Afghanistan

7/24/10 - Wisconsin peace groups are making another pitch to curtail funding for the war in Afghanistan. Peace Action Wisconsin and other groups made the rounds of Democratic Congressional offices in Milwaukee. They asked that lawmakers vote against a supplemental appropriations bill that would add billions of dollars for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Jim Carpenter of the Progressive Democrats of America says paying for the war is hurting the ability to help the U.S. economy. As the group was visiting Sen. Herb Kohl's office, Kohl released a statement saying he wants to give President Obama's strategy of wanting deadlines for success in Afghanistan a chance to work. Sen. Russ Feingold says he's repeatedly voted against more money for the Afghan war, and House member Gwen Moore says she's already voted against one version of the supplemental appropriations bill.

Top Stories, July 23rd

Rains Lead To Farm Tech Days Cancellation

7/23/10 - Heavy rains led to the cancellation of the final day of Wisconsin’s largest annual farm show in Pierce County. Matt Hanson with Dodge County’s UW Extension office told us that about two inches of rain fell in one hour and the grounds looked like a big lake. Last year, Farm Tech Days was held near Waterloo, and Dodge County organizers were well prepared for the modest rain that had fallen because thunderstorms had forced the early cancellation of the 2008 Farm Tech Days. Hanson says this year’s organizers did not heed the warnings about preparing for inclement weather. Hanson says there was no satellite parking and only one shuttle from the Ellsworth County Fair a half hour away. He says if those steps had been taken the show could have possibly re-opened in the afternoon. Farm Tech Days will be held in Marathon County next year and Hanson says organizers were able to learn firsthand from this year’s event about the importance of being prepared for wet conditions. Thousands of people attended the show on Tuesday and Wednesday. It featured the latest in farm technology and equipment – plus numerous demonstrations and activities. Around 80-thousand people had been expected to attend during the scheduled three days.

Knaup Bound Over in John Doe Burglary

7/23/10 - Probable cause was found yesterday to bind over a former Beaver Dam on charges that he burglarized a home in 2007. Timothy Knaup faces two counts of Burglary and Theft along with a misdemeanor count of Intentionally Pointing A Firearm. The 47-year-old is accused of breaking into a home in Beaver Dam. The home owner reportedly came home and interrupted the burglar, who was armed with a small handgun. He ordered the homeowner at gunpoint to go into a different room, and fled the residence. In a separate case, Knaup was sentenced to five years in prison last year for pointing a loaded gun at police officers who were called to his residence for a domestic incident. Officers safely removed a child and then located Knaup in the basement, with a beer in one hand and a loaded 22-caliber handgun in the other. After refusing to surrender the weapon, which was cocked, officers deployed their Tazer gun and took him into custody. As of result of that felony conviction, his DNA was collected. The State Crime Lab recently connected that DNA to evidence left at the scene of the 2007 burglary. The case had been filed under the name “John Doe” but Timothy Knaup has an arraignment hearing September 8.

Sabbatini Sentenced For 7th OWI

7/23/10 - A Burnett man will spend two and a half years in prison for his seventh OWI. Raymond Sabbatini was in the back of a squad car as the clock struck midnight on New Years. Deputies responded to Highway 33 and Dakota Road in the Town of Herman just before midnight on December 31 after receiving reports of a motorist needing assistance. The 41-year-old was stuck in a snow bank. When authorities arrived on scene he was sitting in the driver’s seat. His blood alcohol level was point .113. Sabbatini will also spend three years on extended supervision and had his license suspended for three years followed by three years with an ignition interlock device on his vehicle.

CPD Incorporates NIXLE

7/23/10 - Columbus Police have been using and testing a new digital communications service called NIXLE for the past two weeks. Chief Daniel Meister said NIXLE messages sent from his department to any citizen who has signed in will give Police a faster way to contact local residents with notices of missing persons, floods, fires or other dangerous situations. The free digital service to email and cell phone users will allow the Police to communicate with many people in the community quicker than ever before.

Top Stories, July 23rd

Rains Lead To Farm Tech Days Cancellation

7/23/10 - Heavy rains led to the cancellation of the final day of Wisconsin’s largest annual farm show in Pierce County. Matt Hanson with Dodge County’s UW Extension office told us that about two inches of rain fell in one hour and the grounds looked like a big lake. Last year, Farm Tech Days was held near Waterloo, and Dodge County organizers were well prepared for the modest rain that had fallen because thunderstorms had forced the early cancellation of the 2008 Farm Tech Days. Hanson says this year’s organizers did not heed the warnings about preparing for inclement weather. Hanson says there was no satellite parking and only one shuttle from the Ellsworth County Fair a half hour away. He says if those steps had been taken the show could have possibly re-opened in the afternoon. Farm Tech Days will be held in Marathon County next year and Hanson says organizers were able to learn firsthand from this year’s event about the importance of being prepared for wet conditions. Thousands of people attended the show on Tuesday and Wednesday. It featured the latest in farm technology and equipment – plus numerous demonstrations and activities. Around 80-thousand people had been expected to attend during the scheduled three days.

Knaup Bound Over in John Doe Burglary

7/23/10 - Probable cause was found yesterday to bind over a former Beaver Dam on charges that he burglarized a home in 2007. Timothy Knaup faces two counts of Burglary and Theft along with a misdemeanor count of Intentionally Pointing A Firearm. The 47-year-old is accused of breaking into a home in Beaver Dam. The home owner reportedly came home and interrupted the burglar, who was armed with a small handgun. He ordered the homeowner at gunpoint to go into a different room, and fled the residence. In a separate case, Knaup was sentenced to five years in prison last year for pointing a loaded gun at police officers who were called to his residence for a domestic incident. Officers safely removed a child and then located Knaup in the basement, with a beer in one hand and a loaded 22-caliber handgun in the other. After refusing to surrender the weapon, which was cocked, officers deployed their Tazer gun and took him into custody. As of result of that felony conviction, his DNA was collected. The State Crime Lab recently connected that DNA to evidence left at the scene of the 2007 burglary. The case had been filed under the name “John Doe” but Timothy Knaup has an arraignment hearing September 8.

Sabbatini Sentenced For 7th OWI

7/23/10 - A Burnett man will spend two and a half years in prison for his seventh OWI. Raymond Sabbatini was in the back of a squad car as the clock struck midnight on New Years. Deputies responded to Highway 33 and Dakota Road in the Town of Herman just before midnight on December 31 after receiving reports of a motorist needing assistance. The 41-year-old was stuck in a snow bank. When authorities arrived on scene he was sitting in the driver’s seat. His blood alcohol level was point .113. Sabbatini will also spend three years on extended supervision and had his license suspended for three years followed by three years with an ignition interlock device on his vehicle.

CPD Incorporates NIXLE

7/23/10 - Columbus Police have been using and testing a new digital communications service called NIXLE for the past two weeks. Chief Daniel Meister said NIXLE messages sent from his department to any citizen who has signed in will give Police a faster way to contact local residents with notices of missing persons, floods, fires or other dangerous situations. The free digital service to email and cell phone users will allow the Police to communicate with many people in the community quicker than ever before.

Fall River Concert In The Park

7/23/10- It’s a Concert, Dance, Picnic and Village Pot Luck all rolled into one. The Fall River annual “Concert in the Park” begins at 6:00 pm tonight (Fri) in the Village Park and shelter. Jesse Walker provide Country Music and Dancing. There will be brats, hot dogs, ice cream and beverages. Attendees are asked to donate home made cake, pie or desert bar creations. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. All donations and proceeds received will used for the Village Parks in Fall River.

Top Stories July 22nd

Heavy Rain Hitting the State


7/22/10 - A storm bringing more heavy rain to the area is already making its presence felt this morning. The radar has rain stretching all the way back through Iowa and Minnesota and forecasters say we could see as much as 3 or 4 inches of rain today. Because of that a flash flood watch goes into effect at 10am for most of our listening area including Dodge, Columbia and Fond du Lac Counties. Meanwhile, forecasters say more showers are expected late tonight into Friday. The next totally dry day may not come until Sunday.

AG Secretary Nilsestuen Drowned

7/22/10 - Wisconsin’s agriculture secretary drowned late yesterday afternoon while swimming in Lake Superior. An ag department spokesman said 62-year-old Rod Nilsestuen was on vacation in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Marquette Police were told about 5:50 p-m that a man was having trouble in Lake Superior. And after a 50-minute search, two rescuers found him floating about 300 yards south of Marquette’s Picnic Rocks. Efforts to revive Nilsestuen were not successful, and he died later at a Marquette hospital. Police did not release his name. But Governor Jim Doyle issued a statement calling Nilsestuen a visionary leader and a wonderful friend.

Unemployment Rates Up Throughout Area

7/22/10 - Local unemployment rates were up across the board last month. Dodge County jumped from 7.8% to 8.2% in June. Last year at this time it was at 10%. Fond du Lac County was up three-tenths of a percent to 7.8%. Jefferson County sits at 8.8% up from 8.4%, while Washington County jumped two-tenths of percent to 7.9%. Columbia County went up two-tenths of a percent to 7.5% giving it the lowest rate in the area. Only 12 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties saw their actual unemployment rates go down or hold steady last month, and many of those places are tourist spots. Dane County continued to have the lowest rate at 5.7% while Menominee County has the highest rate at 17.1%. The statewide rate was at 8.1%. That’s up four-tenths of a percent from May but still a full percentage point lower than a year ago.

Water and Sewer Rates Going Up in Fox Lake

7/22/10 - For the first time in nearly two decades water and sewer rates in Fox Lake are expected rise. Last night the city council agreed, pending a vote next month, to raise the water rate by 3-percent and the sewer rate by 10-percent. Based on estimates that the average house hold uses 450-cubic feet of water, their monthly water bill would go up by 27-cents and their sewer bill by $2.83. The council is expected to vote of the rate increases at their meeting next month and if everything falls into place they expect them to go into effect at the beginning of September. It’ll be the first rate increase since 1992. The council also heard last night that all of their construction projects are on schedule, including the Highway 33/Spring Street project. A portion of that roadway has been closed since April, but officials believe it could reopen on or before its projected finish date of August 20th.

American Idol Auditions Held in Milwaukee

7/22/10 - Over 10-thousand people had their shot at stardom yesterday, when they converged on Milwaukee’s Bradley Center for the “American Idol” auditions. Candidates from throughout Wisconsin and the nation were on hand. A line had formed since Tuesday night – and Fox producers made sure the crowd was wired by the time the doors opened at 7:30 yesterday morning. They were treated to performances by previous Idol contestants Danny Gokey of Milwaukee and Matt Giraud. And they got excited when seeing the show’s host, Ryan Seacrest. Once the doors finally opened, the would-be stars went to 12 stations to sing brief songs – and many were chosen for a second round of auditions next month before a group of executive producers. It will be a few weeks before the final nominees get their auditions before the show’s on-camera judges, who will decide which ones go to Hollywood for the next rounds. The show’s 10th season will start airing on Fox in January.

Top Stories, July 21st

Parkhurst Crate Arrives in Tanzania

7/21/10 - The 20-foot container of school supplies that left Beaver Dam for Africa in March has arrived at its destination. Beaver Dam-native Cassie Parkhurst is half-way into a four month trip to Tanzania, where she and two others are building three libraries. Parkhurst is founder of the Tanzanian Education Project, and is in the middle of her second trip to the impoverished east African country in the past two years. With the help of her home community of Beaver Dam, Parkhurst packed a crate the size of a Buick with books, sports equipment and school supplies. According to the groups most recent blog update, the container arrived in their village on July 10th and the group immediately got to work unloading: “African-style.” That means they had no forklift, there was a lot of shouting in English and Swahili and it took a long time. They wrote that, “it would have been a lot worse if the folks at home had not organized things ahead of time.” They concluded their entry with a “thank you” and said it was “an incredibly successful and wonderful week” and they have accomplished much. The crate was supposed to arrive several weeks ago and the group has had to pay around $500 in extra port charges because of the delays.

MEC Cuts the Ribbon On New Coating Division

7/21/10 - The ribbon has been cut on Mayville Engineering Company’s new, 300,000 square foot painting line. MEC’s Phoenix Coating Division is located in the new Beaver Dam Industrial Park. Phoenix Coaters General Manager and Vice President Bob Wiedenhaft (weed-in-heft) says they have the most state-of-the-art equipment, with high corrosion protection for customers in military, agriculture, construction, off-the-road, furniture and several other markets. Ultimately, MEC hopes to have three full shifts operating around the clock. Right now, Wiedenhaft says they have filled the positions for their current production needs, but they are taking applications for a second shift that they hope to add by the end of the year. Wiedenhaft says there is a great workforce in Beaver Dam, and its location makes it desirable for future expansion. As far as MEC’s ability to add jobs in a time when most employers are laying-off workers, Wiedenhaft says it’s no secret: you listen to the customers needs and give them a quality product, on time, at a competitive price.

Interquest Expands

7/21/10 - A Beaver Dam business is expanding into other counties. Interquest Corp will be opening a new location in Fond du Lac in September. In business for 14 years, Interquest provides computer sales and repair along with home theater design and installation and other technological services.

Tell-A-Tale Presents “Alice In Wonderland”

7/21/10 - Area Middle School students bring their version of “Alice In Wonderland” to the stage of the Beaver Dam Community Theater today. The six-show run is a joint collaboration between the Beaver Dam Middle School and the community theater’s Tell-A-Tale troupe. Director Gary Cross says it’s a contemporary version of the classic Disney cartoon, which means among other things it features a politically correct caterpillar. Cross says the kids in the program are able to learn more about theater, both on the stage and behind the scenes. The kids this year are also wired for sound, and the discreet microphones taped to the sides of their cheeks present new challenges while also providing a learning opportunity. Marq Clawson, who plays The Caterpillar, says he learned the hard way during the final dress rehearsal that you can’t talk off stage while your mic is on or the entire theater will hear your conversation. “Alice in Wonderland” is on the stage of the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater today thru Friday with show times at 2pm and 7pm. Advanced tickets are $5 and are available at Rechek’s Food Pride or at the door.

National Night Out Right Around The Corner

7/21/10 - Police Chief Dan Meister and Fire Chief Randy Kuehn have invited Columbus area residents to another annual “National Night Out.” The public is invited to meet with Columbus Police and Fire professionals at Fireman’s Park from 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Tuesday night, August 3rd. There will be activities on home and personal safety for all ages. National Night Out events will be held across the county. There is also one planned in Beaver Dam. // To find out more about National Night Out, contact Police Department Officer Mandy McFarland at the Columbus Police Department.

Authorities Revisit 20 Year Old Cold Case

7/21/10 - Fond du Lac County authorities never closed the book on a murder case and with the 20-year anniversary of that case are hoping a fresh set of eyes may bring closure to it. Eighteen-year-old Berit Beck’s van was found outside the Fond du Lac Kmart and six weeks after that her body was discovered in a ditch near Waupun. Lieutenant Cameron McGee oversees the Sheriff’s Detective Bureau. He says over the years they chased down every lead and are hoping that Berit’s killer left something behind in her van: DNA. Sheriff Mick Fink is one of two investigators remaining who originally worked on the case. He says they are hoping the state crime lab gives them the miracle they need to bring closure for the family and the investigators for whom the case became very personal. Fond du Lac police were able to close a 33-year-old murder case last year with DNA evidence playing a significant role in that resolution.

Dane Co Man Leaves Kid In Tavern Parking Lot

7/21/10 - A Dane County man faces charges after leaving his young son in a truck while he drank at rural tavern. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Elise Schaefer said it happened Saturday night at Heather’s Bar in Rockdale. “When one man was leaving the bar at about 12:30 he noticed a small child sleeping in a pickup truck outside. The truck had the keys in the ignition and the radio was playing,” said Schaefer. She said the patron removed the keys from the ignition, went back inside the bar, and located the truck’s owner, 33 year-old David Hines, who deputies later determined to be intoxicated. Schaefer said that when Hines realized the sheriff’s department had been called, he tried to take his three year-old son out of the truck and leave on foot. A couple of patrons held him until officers arrived. “They were definitely very concerned that this child could be in danger,” Schaefer said. Hines was arrested on a child neglect charge.

Court Rules on Secret GPS Tracking

7/21/10 - The State Supreme Court says it was okay for police to secretly put a G-P-S tracking device on the car of a suspected stalker. The justices ruled that Michael Sveum, formerly of Madison, was not the victim of an illegal search under the Fourth Amendment. The Supreme Court agreed with an earlier ruling from an appeals court, which said the G-P-S device provided information that could have been obtained by a visual surveillance. And therefore, police did not violate Sveum’s constitutional rights by putting the satellite tracking device on his car while it was parked at his house. Officers were looking for evidence that Sveum stalked a woman in 2003. They used the data from the G-P-S to get a warrant for his car and home, where they found the evidence that convicted Sveum. He was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison in early 2007 – plus five years of extended supervision. He’s serving his term in Oshkosh.

Court Ruling Adds $200 Million To State Deficit

7/21/10 - It’s too early to tell if tax increases or spending cuts will be needed, after the state budget took a 200-million-dollar hit today. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled on a 5-to-2 vote that it was unconstitutional for the governor and Legislature to transfer the 200-million to balance the rest of the budget – after it was paid by doctors for the express purpose of paying for medical malpractice court settlements. The transfer in question occurred in 2007. And it was not immediately known what the fiscal impact would be on the current two-year state budget that runs through next June. Assembly Democrat Mark Pocan of Madison, a co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee, said it’s too early to tell if lawmakers will have to be called back before January to close what could be a big budget hole. At the moment, the current budget is projected to have a balance of 45-million-dollars – almost a quarter of what the malpractice fund will have to be paid back. A year ago, the fees paid by doctors rose by almost 10-percent. But the Legislative Audit Bureau said it was not enough to create a 109-million-dollar shortfall in the malpractice fund, once all expected malpractice settlements are taken into account. Pocan said it was fair to blame the fund transfer on the Republicans who controlled the Assembly in 2007 – even though a Democratic Senate and Democratic Governor Jim Doyle went along with it. Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and Justice Ann Walsh Bradley voted against today’s decision.

Kohl, Feingold Support Kagan

7/21/10 - Both of Wisconsin’s U-S senators voted yesterday (Tu) to confirm Elena Kagan to the nation’s highest court. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold joined the other Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee in recommending the solicitor general to the full Senate. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was the only Republican who supported Kagan in 13-to-6 committee vote. Democrats have more than enough votes to confirm her, and a few more Republicans are expected to back her as well. Feingold said last week he would vote for Kagan. At the recent confirmation hearings, Kohl said he knew virtually nothing about her judicial philosophy. But yesterday, Kohl said she impressed the panel with quote, “her sharp mind, keen intellect, and comprehensive knowledge of the Constitution and the law.” Kohl said Kagan was more candid at times than previous nominees – but like others in recent years, she said only the bare minimum about substantive views to get her confirmed. And by refusing to grade past cases, Kohl said Kagan went too far to avoid pre-judging matters that might come before the Supreme Court. He said the country has a long way to go in quote, “meeting the high standard to which we should hold Supreme Court nominees.” But Kohl praised Kagan for making what he called “small inroads” in that department.

Farmer Find FoodShare Program Easier

7/21/10 - Farmers are finding it easier to apply for FoodShare—a program that helps low-income people buy food. Determining their eligibility for assistance has improved after the state made some changes to enrollment. Paul Dietmann says fewer farmers are calling to seek help in applying for FoodShare in the first half of this year. Dietmann is the director of the Wisconsin Farm Center. He says 20 to 30 calls have come in so far, which is down from around 100 during the same time-span one year ago. He believes the reason calls are down is because farmers are now getting the help they need to get access to the program. Eligibility is usually determined on a person’s earnings in the previous year. But, because farmers are experiencing significant changes and uncertainty in their income, the state Department of Health Services created a new form in May just for farmers. Vicki Jessup is the policy chief in the DHS bureau responsible for FoodShare enrollment. She says if farmers can’t use their tax forms because it’s not an accurate picture of their current income, the new form helps them provide more current financial information. The form is modeled after the same worksheet farmers fill out when reporting their income to the IRS. While there’s less difficulty applying, Dietmann says he doesn’t believe there are fewer farmers seeking help. The Department of Health Services doesn’t specifically track the number of farmers receiving FoodShare, but it does report a 32 percent increase in those seeking FoodShare assistance from last year at this time.