BD Woman is ‘Country’s Hottest Star’
8/2/10 - A Beaver Dam woman won the “Country’s Hottest Star” competition during this weekend’s Log Jam Festival in Phillips. Chelli Wuesthoff was one of three contestants who won an entry as part of a contest on WXRO and competed against others from across the state. Wuestoff made it to the top three yesterday afternoon and performed “Gun Powder and Lead” by Miranda Lambert with a live band on the main stage. Wuestoff says she was “shocked” that she won and thought to herself “this is where it all begins.” According to the website, the winner will head to Nashville, where they will perform with musician Cowboy Troy at the Hard Rock Café. Wuestoff says the promoters with Star Promotions will provide more details today but they are already talking about more dates, not just in Nashville, but around the country. She was asked if she writes songs or plays guitar and when she said no, the promoters jokingly said, “You better learn.” In her text to us last night, Wuestoff used a smiley face emoticon when she said she “really believes [her] mom helped [her] win this from heaven.”
BD Eliminated From State Tourney
8/2/10 - The White Construction/Beaver Dam American Legion Post 146 baseball team was eliminated from the Class AA State Tournament after a 7-6 lost to Merrill on Sunday afternoon. Post 146 rallied for five runs in the 7th inning, before the inning ended with the winning runner in scoring position ending the game. With the loss, White Construction/Beaver Dam American Legion Post 146, finishes the season 19-14.
Embezzlement Suspect Due In Court
8/2/10 - A West Bend woman accused of embezzling over $30,000 from Sensient Flavors in Juneau is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Dodge County court today. Wendy Franke was Director of Quality Systems at the plant. The 46-year-old is accused of stealing from a bank account containing money from co-workers that was collected for things like holiday parties and company picnics. She used the petty cash for clothes, gift cards appliances and international travel. The withdrawals date back to 2003; Franke was fired in February. Felony Theft in a Business Setting carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Two Separate Gas Leaks in Dodge County
8/2/10 - There were two evacuations in Dodge County on Friday following separate gas leaks. Construction crews on the 600 block of North University in Beaver Dam struck a four-inch natural gas line with a back hoe Friday afternoon, leading to the evacuation of homes and businesses within a half-mile radius. One nearby resident told us it sounded like a “jet engine.” Late Friday night, an apartment building on Highway 67 in Ashippun was evacuated after someone reported smelling gas in their kitchen. Alliant Energy responded and fixed several small gas leaks around the stove.
BD Woman Charged With Felony Fleeing
8/2/10 - A Beaver Dam woman was charged with felony fleeing for allegedly running from police early Saturday morning. 27-year-old Nicole E. Steltz was also charged with Bail Jumping and driving on a suspended license. Steltz is being held on an outstanding warrant out of Dane County, where she allegedly failed to appear on a charge related to her second OWI this past March.
Stone Street Reconstruction Begins Today
8/2/10 - The Stone Street reconstruction project begins today in Beaver Dam. Engineering Coordinator Ritchie Piltz says Stone Street will be closed to through traffic from Roedl Court to South University. The contractor will begin installing a new water main tomorrow followed by removal of the pavement, installation of storm sewer, then street complete reconstruction. There will be no posted detour.
Property Taxes Due
8/2/10 - If you haven’t paid your property tax bill yet, you’ll want to get down to the county treasurers office today. The second installment of property taxes was due on July 31, but because that fell on a weekend, Dodge County Treasurer Patti Hilker says her office will accept payments until close of business today without penalty. The Dodge County Treasurer’s Office is located in the Administration Building at 127 East Oak Street in Juneau. Late payments are assessed a 10.5% penalty retroactive to February 1.
Body Pulled from Wisconsin River in Columbia County
8/2/10 - The body of a 25-year-old Madison man missing since Saturday night was pulled from the Wisconsin River yesterday afternoon. Columbia County authorities say Kevin Severson was with a group of friends canoeing on the river when he jumped out to swim. Witnesses say Severson experienced some type of issue, yelled for help and attempted to grab a branch before going under water. His body was pulled from the river around 1pm yesterday. Authorities say the group had been drinking but would not say whether the victim had.
Florida Girls in Critical Condition After Fall in WI Dells
8/2/10 - A 12-year-old Florida girl was still in critical condition at last word, after she fell 40-feet while on a free-fall ride at a Wisconsin Dells amusement park. Teagan Marti is at the U-W children’s hospital in Madison. She was injured on Friday at the Extreme World amusement park in Lake Delton. Teagan was on the Terminal Velocity ride which drops a diver 100-feet at up to 52-miles-an-hour into a double net. But police said the net was not high enough, and she hit the ground. State and local officials are still investigating. The park remains closed – and media reports said it was scheduled to be sold at a foreclosure sale next month.
Senate to Vote on More Stimulus Funding for Medicaid and Education
8/2/10 - The U-S Senate will soon vote on more federal stimulus funding for state Medicaid and education programs. And the Wisconsin officials who run those programs say the proposed funding is vital. Wisconsin could get another 185-million-dollars for its Medicaid services for the first half of next year. State health services secretary Karen Timberlake says the funding is badly needed, as the state’s Medicaid budget faces a possible deficit of 850-million that must be covered by next June. Timberlake says Medicaid faces more spending cuts, while the demand for its services among the poor and elderly continues to be high. The Senate bill would also give Wisconsin another 180-million stimulus dollars for public schools. State Superintendent Tony Evers says it would avoid an unknown number of layoffs at schools throughout the state. He said at least two-thousand educators have already been laid off in recent weeks, including hundreds in Milwaukee.
Wisconsin has 4th Least Amount of Uninsured
8/2/10 - Fewer than one-of-every-10 Wisconsinites does not have health insurance. That’s according to newly-released data from the U-S Census Bureau. It says Wisconsin has the fourth-highest percentage of people with health coverage, and the numbers are consistent with other recent surveys. But the Census Bureau says areas in the far north have higher percentages of un-insured residents – around 17-percent in Vilas and Bayfield counties. Vilas County social services director Kate Gardner says there are not many large companies in her area – and a lot of workers are independent loggers who cannot afford their own insurance. Also, she said unemployment goes up when the tourist season ends. The Milwaukee suburbs have the lowest rates of un-insured, with larger-than-normal percentages of educated and higher-income residents. The Census data is from 2007, and it does not reflect the impact from the latest recession. But the report also came out before the state expanded its Badger-Care program the working poor and children.
Opposing Groups Agree on Something, Rule is Unconstitutional
8/2/10 - Two opposing political groups have filed a lawsuit against a new state rule on issue ads – which praise or criticize a candidate on an issue, but do not say to vote for-or-against the person. The Government Accountability Board started enforcing the new rule yesterday. It requires outside groups to say where they get the money for the issue ads they run within 30 days of a primary, and 60 days of a general election. The conservative Wisconsin Club for Growth and the liberal One Wisconsin Now both say the rule is unconstitutional, because it limits their right to free speech. One Wisconsin Now says the rule also affects Internet activity for the first time. But Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign calls the lawsuit “baseless and frivolous.” He says said the board followed previous court decisions in requiring what he calls “the responsibility of disclosure” from groups that advertise. The Accountability Board is made up of six retired judges. And director Kevin Kennedy said they spent over a year getting input and working on the new rule to make sure it’s constitutional. The law requires groups that put out issue ads to register with the state by August 13th, and start disclosing their funding sources on August 16th. The plaintiffs hope to get a federal judge to rule on the matter by then.
Farm Aid Lineup to be Announced Today
8/2/10 - Wisconsin will host the 25th annual Farm Aid concert two months from today – and the initial lineup of performers will be announced this morning. Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp started the concerts to call attention to the plight of family farmers. They’ll perform at the October second show at Milwaukee’s Miller Park, along with Dave Matthews and Neil Young. Other performers will be announced later today at a news conference. Tickets go on sale August 14th. Wisconsin has never hosted a Farm Aid concert before. The show’s director, Carolyn Mugar, said the Badger State was chosen because of its strong agricultural tradition – and because it has the greatest successes in what she calls the “good food movement.” That’s defined as the growth in organic foods and family-made products. Mugar also said the show recognizes the contributions of Milwaukee urban farmer Will Allen, whose efforts have been nationally-recognized from the White House on down. Allen said he’s elated that Milwaukee will host the Farm Aid concert. He calls it a big thing for both the state, and for his organization.
Body Pulled from Wisconsin River in Columbia County
8/2/10 - The body of a 25-year-old Madison man missing since Saturday night was pulled from the Wisconsin River yesterday afternoon. Columbia County authorities say Kevin Severson was with a group of friends canoeing on the river when he jumped out to swim. Witnesses say Severson experienced some type of issue, yelled for help and attempted to grab a branch before going under water. His body was pulled from the river around 1pm yesterday. Authorities say the group had been drinking but would not say whether the victim had.
Florida Girls in Critical Condition After Fall in WI Dells
8/2/10 - A 12-year-old Florida girl was still in critical condition at last word, after she fell 40-feet while on a free-fall ride at a Wisconsin Dells amusement park. Teagan Marti is at the U-W children’s hospital in Madison. She was injured on Friday at the Extreme World amusement park in Lake Delton. Teagan was on the Terminal Velocity ride which drops a diver 100-feet at up to 52-miles-an-hour into a double net. But police said the net was not high enough, and she hit the ground. State and local officials are still investigating. The park remains closed – and media reports said it was scheduled to be sold at a foreclosure sale next month.
Senate to Vote on More Stimulus Funding for Medicaid and Education
8/2/10 - The U-S Senate will soon vote on more federal stimulus funding for state Medicaid and education programs. And the Wisconsin officials who run those programs say the proposed funding is vital. Wisconsin could get another 185-million-dollars for its Medicaid services for the first half of next year. State health services secretary Karen Timberlake says the funding is badly needed, as the state’s Medicaid budget faces a possible deficit of 850-million that must be covered by next June. Timberlake says Medicaid faces more spending cuts, while the demand for its services among the poor and elderly continues to be high. The Senate bill would also give Wisconsin another 180-million stimulus dollars for public schools. State Superintendent Tony Evers says it would avoid an unknown number of layoffs at schools throughout the state. He said at least two-thousand educators have already been laid off in recent weeks, including hundreds in Milwaukee.
Wisconsin has 4th Least Amount of Uninsured
8/2/10 - Fewer than one-of-every-10 Wisconsinites does not have health insurance. That’s according to newly-released data from the U-S Census Bureau. It says Wisconsin has the fourth-highest percentage of people with health coverage, and the numbers are consistent with other recent surveys. But the Census Bureau says areas in the far north have higher percentages of un-insured residents – around 17-percent in Vilas and Bayfield counties. Vilas County social services director Kate Gardner says there are not many large companies in her area – and a lot of workers are independent loggers who cannot afford their own insurance. Also, she said unemployment goes up when the tourist season ends. The Milwaukee suburbs have the lowest rates of un-insured, with larger-than-normal percentages of educated and higher-income residents. The Census data is from 2007, and it does not reflect the impact from the latest recession. But the report also came out before the state expanded its Badger-Care program the working poor and children.
Opposing Groups Agree on Something, Rule is Unconstitutional
8/2/10 - Two opposing political groups have filed a lawsuit against a new state rule on issue ads – which praise or criticize a candidate on an issue, but do not say to vote for-or-against the person. The Government Accountability Board started enforcing the new rule yesterday. It requires outside groups to say where they get the money for the issue ads they run within 30 days of a primary, and 60 days of a general election. The conservative Wisconsin Club for Growth and the liberal One Wisconsin Now both say the rule is unconstitutional, because it limits their right to free speech. One Wisconsin Now says the rule also affects Internet activity for the first time. But Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign calls the lawsuit “baseless and frivolous.” He says said the board followed previous court decisions in requiring what he calls “the responsibility of disclosure” from groups that advertise. The Accountability Board is made up of six retired judges. And director Kevin Kennedy said they spent over a year getting input and working on the new rule to make sure it’s constitutional. The law requires groups that put out issue ads to register with the state by August 13th, and start disclosing their funding sources on August 16th. The plaintiffs hope to get a federal judge to rule on the matter by then.
Farm Aid Lineup to be Announced Today
8/2/10 - Wisconsin will host the 25th annual Farm Aid concert two months from today – and the initial lineup of performers will be announced this morning. Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp started the concerts to call attention to the plight of family farmers. They’ll perform at the October second show at Milwaukee’s Miller Park, along with Dave Matthews and Neil Young. Other performers will be announced later today at a news conference. Tickets go on sale August 14th. Wisconsin has never hosted a Farm Aid concert before. The show’s director, Carolyn Mugar, said the Badger State was chosen because of its strong agricultural tradition – and because it has the greatest successes in what she calls the “good food movement.” That’s defined as the growth in organic foods and family-made products. Mugar also said the show recognizes the contributions of Milwaukee urban farmer Will Allen, whose efforts have been nationally-recognized from the White House on down. Allen said he’s elated that Milwaukee will host the Farm Aid concert. He calls it a big thing for both the state, and for his organization.
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