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.