Top Stores July 13th

Judge Rules in Favor of Former BDHS Secretary


8/13/10 - An administrative law judge has sided with a secretary of the Beaver Dam School District who says former High School Principal Don Patenode created a hostile work environment. The judge with the Department of Workforce Development ruled in favor of Cheryl Grulke, who is seeking unemployment compensation from the district following a long absence. Grulke’s attorney says human resources “poorly handled” the department, “failing to address the problems of harassment and discrimination at the high school.”

According to the statement of an unnamed administrator, admitted as evidence, Patenode allegedly “belittled [Grulke] and allowed others to do so.” That hostile work environment reportedly led to the extended medical absence beginning last October. Grulke’s lawyer Robert Shumaker says the district then “failed to tell Grulke that she could apply for unemployment compensation.” Shumaker blamed then-Human Resources Director Steve Vessey -- who is now Superintendent – saying it was a “routine matter that competent human resource professionals should know how to handle.”

Administrative Law Judge Bronwyn Baldwin issued the written decision on Wednesday saying district officials were aware of the problem as far back as last November but failed to notify Grulke about unemployment benefits until this April. Additional claims are being considered for alleged violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act. Shumaker says his client is reluctant to file another lawsuit but the Board of Educations attorney has not responded to Grulke’s request to meet with the board.

This ruling is separate from a lawsuit filed by Grulke’s husband last month seeking the release of public records from when Vessey was in Human Resources and Don Childs was Superintendent. The court has ordered the district to produce those records by August 18, or show cause as to why they should not have to.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

8/13/10 - A good samaritan got nothing but trouble for his good deed this morning. A passing motorist reported to the Sheriff’s Department that there was a truck in a ditch on County Road D-J in the Town of Clyman around 5:15 a-m. The motorist helped pull the man’s truck from the ditch. But as he did, that the truck backed into his vehicle and the man then fled the scene. The motorist reported the man may have been drunk.

Mustskis Heading To Nationals

8/13/10 - The Beaverland Mustskis are heading to the nationals. The National Show Ski Association has announced that the Mustskis are part of the field of competing teams for the 36th Division One Show Ski National Championships this Saturday and Sunday. In competitive show skiing, each club has one hour to present a theatrical performance on water skis. Judges score acts by awarding points based on originality, presentation and execution. There are a total of 14 teams competing from three different national regions. The Mustskis should ski around noon on Sunday – give or take 45 minutes. The competition was slated to be in Janesville but due to high water conditions, has been moved to Wisconsin Rapids. The tournament will take place in South Woods County Park on Lake Wazeecha. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. Due to National Competition, there will be no show this Sunday at Tahoe Park in Beaver Dam. The team competition will be available to view via live Webcast beginning at 7:30 am each morning.

To view the live Webcast: http://waterski.teamusa.org/live

Note: The webcast will only be available during the actual competition times.

Scrap Metals Thieves Apprehended

8/13/10 - Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls believes they’ve identified 95-percent of the people responsible for the numerous reports of scrap mental being stolen. Nehls says in recent weeks they’ve stepped up their investigations into the incidents and through surveillance have identified at least eight-people working in two or three groups. Nehls says the suspects they have in custody are cooperating and most have admitted to the thefts. A number of them were charged last week and Nehls says charges will be filed this week and next. The most recent attempted theft came early yesterday (Thursday) morning in the town of Rubicon, where two men were spotted trying to steal scrap stainless steel from behind a shop. The two men ran from the scene but authorities identified them and have impounded their vehicle.

Markesan Man Waives Prelim in Chase

8/13/10 - A Markesan man charged in Dodge County with running from police waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday. 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. Wills still faces charges in Green Lake County court on felony Fleeing charges from earlier that evening. An arraignment hearing is scheduled in Dodge County next week.

Slow Speed Chase Suspect Advances To Plea Hearing

8/13/10 - A former Beaver Dam woman who led police on a low-speed chase late last month waived her right to a preliminary hearing Thursday. Nicole E. Steltz reportedly told arresting officers that she should “absolutely not” be driving. According to the criminal complaint, the 27-year-old was driving a rental car with a suspended Nevada driver’s license when she nearly struck a curb on West Mill Street. Steltz is said to have over-corrected the vehicle, darting into oncoming traffic. When officers initiated pursuit, Steltz reportedly slammed on the brakes, then hit the accelerator. A slow-speed chase followed that lasted for several blocks. When officers finally stopped her vehicle and asked her how much she had been drinking, Steltz reportedly said (quote) “Too much, I am so drunk” and added “this is way too much…fun.” Her blood alcohol level was said to be just over the legal limit for driving at point oh-nine (.09). Steltz has a plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for later this month.

Inmate Facing Forgery Charges

8/13/10 - An alert court clerk recognized the signature of a child custody order didn’t belong to the Fond du Lac County judge she’d been working for during the past 15 years. That helped bring three forgery charges against 51-year-old Kristine Flynn, who allegedly forged the papers while she was an inmate at Taycheedah Correctional Institution. Flynn was trying to gain custody of the disabled son of another inmate. She said in a letter than she also would need about $250,000 from the boy’s bank accounts to take care of him. Flynn also pled guilty Wednesday to five felony counts of tax credit fraud for filing phony homestead tax credits while in prison. She was released from TCI towards the end of June, but has been in custody at the Fond du Lac County Jail on the tax fraud charges.

Lowell Gun Club Burglarized

8/13/10 - Someone burglarized the Lowell Rod & Gun Club. Authorities were called to the business at 700 Watertown Street in Lowell Wednesday afternoon. The door frame of the building was damaged to gain entry. Beer and ammunition were stolen from the premises. The incident remains under investigation.

Storage Unit Break-Ins

8/13/10 - Dodge County authorities are investigating a series of burglaries at a local storage facility. The Sheriff’s Department says more than 15 storage units at Verhage Mini Storage were broken into this week. The thefts from the town of Chester business were reported Wednesday morning. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dodge County Sheriffs Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

Protest on Immigrant Rights Advocates

8/13/10 - Immigrant rights advocates protested an appearance by an expert on border security. Wisconsin native Gary Meinert spends most of the year in Arizona examining border security issues. He offered a presentation on his research at the Capitol yesterday at an event sponsored by Wisconsin TEA Party groups. The event resulted in a protest by about a dozen advocates for immigrant rights. Christine Neumann-Ortiz with Voices de la Frontera says locking up the border is the wrong approach and Meinert’s presentation ignores the issues driving people to cross the borders. Neumann-Ortiz says the U.S. needs to focus on making it easier for immigrants to become legal citizens, not putting up barriers that only endanger lives.