Top Stories, July 2nd

Missing Sauk County Boy Found Dead

7/2/10 - An eight-year-old boy missing for almost two days was found dead this morning in the Baraboo River in Sauk County. Searchers found the body of Joseph Anderson of rural Reedsburg around eight o’clock. Sheriff’s officials say it’s too early to tell if the death was suspicious, and an investigation is underway. Joseph was last seen about three o’clock Wednesday afternoon, when he stepped outside his house to play alone. His father reported him missing on Wednesday night. A ground-and-air search took place yesterday, and the state Justice Department sent an endangered missing persons alert to police and other institutions throughout Wisconsin.

Livingston Sentenced In Embezzlement

7/2/10 - A Beaver Dam woman who embezzled money from her former employer was sentenced Thursday to one year in jail. Sara Livingston entered a “no contest” plea last month to a felony count of Theft In A Business Setting. The 40-year-old stole thousands of dollars from Alt Chiropractic between May of 2006 and December of 2008. The issue came up after Livingston wrote a $10,000 check to herself. She told investigators that she thought better of it, advised her employer and the bank stopped payment. Dr. Dale Alt says that was never the case and she went so far as to impersonate his wife in an attempt to cover her tracks. Livingston was then connected to several other checks written to herself from the company credit account over the two and-a-half year period. According to the criminal complaint, the business account was used to purchase various personal items, acquire cash and even make charitable donations. She also received free treatment from the chiropractor then billed her insurance company and pocketed the money. Livingston said she was surprised to find out about the complaints. She originally denied that she stole the money and said she either received authorization for the expenditures or there was an understanding that the money was a loan that she fully intended to pay back. Her former employer maintained there was no such arrangement. Livingston’s sentence was divided into two segments, the first of which is 60 days long. If she repays $10,279 in restitution, Judge Brian Pfitzinger said he would alter the commencement of the second jail term. A review hearing is set for November 23.

Moonshiner’s Owner Fined

7/2/10 - The bottle said Captain Morgan but state investigators discovered it was actually cheap rum that cost half the price. The owner of Moonshiners Pub & Grub in Beaver Dam was fined $325 this week for illegally refilling liquor bottles. Edward Klapper pleaded “no contest” to a misdemeanor count of Possessing Diluted/ Refilled Intoxicating Liquor. The Department of Revenue’s Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement Unit started investigating the establishment in March. Their sellers permit had been revoked, but the investigator was more concerned about the 13 bottles of liquor that were filled to the top, had stained labels and caps with broken seals. Seven of the bottles were dumped down the drain before the investigator noticed what Klapper was doing. The six remaining bottles were noted to be from an “unauthorized source,” five of which were deemed “refilled.” Klapper admitted that he “top-off” certain bottles, brand-for-brand and said the only exception was the Captain Morgan because of $1 rum specials. Klapper said he didn’t know it was against the law and was ordered to stop the practice immediately.

Possible B&E Suspect Loses Teeth

7/2/10 - The suspect in an attempted breaking and entering had his teeth knocked out early Thursday morning. A woman on Lakecrest Drive in Beaver Dam called authorities just before 2am after a man with a crowbar tried to get into her home through a patio door. The suspect was described as a white male, 19 to 22-years-old, clean-shaven with short dark hair wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie, with “Fubu” written on it. The would-be burglar was chased off by the victim’s boyfriend. They called back two hours later to report that the boyfriend located the suspect in the woods. The boyfriend reported that the suspect was now missing teeth and possibly had a broken nose. He fled on foot. Deputy Chief Dan Schubert says the suspect in this instance is also being considered a victim and they are looking to make contact with him to get his side of the story. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

Ash Borer In Cudahy

7/2/10 - The tree-killing emerald ash borer was discovered Wednesday in Cudahy. It was in one of the traps designed to locate the presence of the ash borer throughout the state. The latest adult beetle was found about five miles northeast of where several trees were infested in Oak Creek. There continues to be two large infestations in Ozaukee and Washington counties at Newburg and in Crawford and Vernon counties at Victory. Smaller discoveries were made in Green Bay and Kenosha. There are state-and-federal quarantines in effect in 11 counties. The ash borer has not been found in Dodge County but Beaver Dam Parks Supervisor John Neumann has said it’s just a matter of time.

High Speed Train Stop IDed

7/2/10 - A state government office building will be the Madison stop for the new high-speed passenger train that’s planned between Madison and Milwaukee. Governor Jim Doyle said Thursday that the new depot will be at the Administration Department building in downtown Madison, about two blocks from the State Capitol. Doyle said the state would hold down its costs by using an existing government structure – and it already has amenities for travelers, including a cafeteria with a terrace. The state was awarded 810-million federal stimulus dollars to create the high-speed train. The train has stops planned in Watertown and Oconomowoc.

Focus On Energy Scaled Back

7/2/10 - Wisconsin’s Focus-on-Energy is scaling back some of its larger incentives to make businesses-and-homes more energy efficient. The program has giving out more rebates, at a time when available funding has decreased. Teresa Weidemann-Smith of the state Public Service Commission said the incentive funds would have run dry by September, had the program not reduced its marketing and delayed spending on program evaluations. But officials say it’s great that people are taking advantage of the offers. Among other things, the changes will mean smaller incentives for businesses. Home customers will no longer get mail-in rebates for buying compact-flourescent light bulbs, since most rebates are given at the cash register anyway. And Energy Star appliance incentives in multi-family buildings will be cut off – but they were not used very much. Focus-on-Energy is funded by utility bills. The program gets just over one-percent of all electric sales.

Risk Sharing Applications Underway

7/2/10 - Wisconsinites who cannot get private health insurance due to pre-existing conditions can start applying for coverage under the state’s Risk-Sharing Plan. The Badger State is getting 73-million-dollars in federal money to help pay for the expanded coverage, which is part of the new national health care reform law. Wisconsin already has one of the country’s largest insurance pools for high-risk people. It’s funded by a tax on all health insurance in the state that’s not self-funded. Under the new package, those with pre-existing conditions must be uninsured for at least six months. Premiums will run from 126-to-473-dollars a month. And deductibles will range from 500 to 25-hundred dollars. Wisconsin is among 29 states and Washington D-C which are running their own plans. The federal government administers similar plans for the other 21 states. For more information on the Wisconsin plan, the toll-free number to call is 1-888-253-2698.