Top Stories, August 3rd

YMCA Demolition Delayed

8/3/10 - The demolition of the former YMCA in Beaver Dam has been delayed by almost one month. The Park Avenue property is the site of the planned $5.1 million police station. According to the schedule by Sun Prairie Sand and Gravel, the structure should have been leveled by now, but higher-than-expected lead and asbestos levels have added another $40,000 to the project. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says the DNR requested another study that identified more of the hazardous materials for removal. The contractor requested a change order totaling over $50,000 but city officials were able to negotiate additional funds not to exceed $40,000. The original bid was for $140,000 and the added money represents an increase of approximately 30%. The city had budgeted $175,000 for demolition. Stoiser says the delays have also eaten up all the extra time that was budgeted into the construction of the police station. There had been four to five weeks of so-called lag time between demolition and construction. Stoiser does not expect the delay to affect the overall project. Environmental remediation will resume in the next week and is expected to take about three weeks, at which time physical demolition will begin. The Operations Committee approved the $40,000 expenditure last night.

Holiday Inn Coming To BD

8/3/10 - The doors to a Beaver Dam Holiday Inn Express will be open in the spring of 2011. That’s according to Robert Rehm with the Badger Hotel Development Company who says the 71-unit hotel will be built (quote) “just up the hill from the YMCA of Dodge County” in the southeast quadrant of County Highway B and Corporate Drive. There will not be a conference center, but there will be meetings rooms and a modest indoor pool. Rehm says they are also hoping to enter into an agreement with their neighbors at the YMCA, whereby guests of the hotel could take advantage of the facility for a nominal fee that could be built into the cost of the room. The project is estimated to create 18 to 26 jobs. Rooms are expected to cost between $65 and $95 dollars. The Beaver Dam Common Council last night approved a developer’s agreement with the Badger Hotel Development detailing responsibilities for road improvements and street signage. The developers still need to acquire a building permit but otherwise say the project is shovel-ready.

BD Outlaws Parking On Lawn

8/3/10 - Beaver Dam residents can no longer park their car on their lawn. The Beaver Dam Common Council approved an ordinance last night that prohibits any motor vehicle, mobile home, motorcycle, trailer or boat from being parked in the front yard of a residence. The ordinance cites a decrease in property values and possible damage to underground infrastructure as reasons for the law.

BD Participating In National Night Out

8/3/10 - The third annual National Night Out in Beaver Dam will be held tonight (Tue). Organizer Chuck Stangle says the purpose of the event is to promote crime prevention and crime awareness. He says they will be bringing together a number of organizations, businesses and citizens to take back the night. The Beaver Dam Police Department and Fire Department along with the Dodge County Sheriffs department will bring out their emergency vehicles, providing kids opportunities to interact with local emergency responders. There will also be a celebrity dunk tank, giveaways, silent auction and a magician along with food, refreshments and ice cream. In addition, the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile will be stopping by. Proceeds from the evening will be directed to the Beaver Dam Police Department Crime Prevention Fund which was recently helped pay for a new speed trailer. This is the 27th year for the National Night Out and last year over 34 million people participated across the country.

Sheriffs Department Considers K-9

8/3/10 - The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department is looking into the possibility of getting a K-9 for the department. As part of a press release detailing recent efforts by local authorities to curtail the movement of drugs through the county Police Captain Molly Soblewski revealed that recent events have pushed them towards obtaining their own dog. In recent months the Waupun and Beaver Dam police departments have had their K9’s pass away and Mayville’s is in limited use with terminal cancer. The use of the dogs in the county has recently shown to be highly effective. Since March, the Sheriff’s Department has teamed up with other local authorities in conducting traffic stops in high traffic areas and looking for signs of drug trafficking and drug use. If the deputy suspected a presence of drugs the K9 unit is called and is walked around the vehicle. Authorities say of the 19 vehicles that dogs indicated drugs were present police made 11 arrests.

Franke Appears on Embezzlement Charge

8/3/10 - A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday for a West Bend woman accused of embezzling from Sensient Flavors in Juneau. According to the criminal complaint, Wendy Franke stole between $30,000 and $70,000 over a seven year period ending in 2009. The money was taken mainly from petty cash, involved tens of thousands of dollars in gift cards along with merchandise and equipment from the plant. Much of the money came directly from an account funded by co-workers for holiday parties and company events. It was allegedly spent on clothes, appliances and international travel. The 46-year-old will be back in court for a preliminary hearing next month.

Waupun Man Charged With OWI Injury

8/3/10 - A Waupun man has been charged in connection with a drunken driving rollover that resulted in injuries to himself and a passenger. According to the criminal complaint, Anthony J. Tibbits crashed the vehicle on Milligan Road near Highway 26 on May 30. The 26-year-old was flighted to a Milwaukee hospital with serious injuries. His passenger sustained non-life threatening injuries and told police that Tibbits was showing-off in his sports car and lost control after hitting a patch of gravel. His blood alcohol level was allegedly over the legal limit at point-one-four. If found guilty, Tibbits faces up to two years behind bars.

Police Report Released In Chase

8/3/10 - A former Beaver Dam woman reportedly told arresting officers this weekend that she should “absolutely not” be driving. According to the police report, Nicole E. Steltz was driving a rental car with a suspended Nevada driver’s license when she nearly struck a curb on West Mill Street around 2:50am Saturday morning. The 27-year-old is said to have over-corrected the vehicle, darting into oncoming traffic. When officers initiated pursuit, Steltz allegedly 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). Charges of felony Fleeing an Officer were forwarded to the Dodge County District Attorney’s Office, along with driving on a suspended license and bail jumping. Steltz allegedly failed to appear on a charge related to her second OWI this past March.

Juneau Man Accused of Stealing Stolen TV

8/3/10 - A Juneau man is accused of selling a stolen television and then breaking into the buyer’s home and stealing it again. Adam Raney faces over 13 years in prison on charges of felony Burglary and misdemeanor Theft. According to the criminal complaint, the 31-year-old stole the flat screen from an apartment that police had raided. He then sold the TV to his friends’ parents for $400. Raney is said to have borrowed that friend’s car a short time later, noticed that the house key was on the same key ring, and stole back the TV and traded it for cocaine. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 16.

BD Man Charged With Garage Burglary

8/3/10 - A Beaver Dam man is charged with felony Burglary for allegedly stealing items from his landlords locked garage. 35-year-old Jason Davidson is accused of breaking into the garage in May and taking spools of copper wiring, tools and sports equipment. The items were found in his nearby stairwell. Davidson says he went into the garage for lawn tools, removed the items but was unable to put them back before the door locked. He faces up to 13-and-a-half years in prison if convicted. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month.

Vandals Target Solar Lights

8/3/10 - Vandals stole solar power lights from the yards of several Beaver Dam residents this weekend. Authorities say a woman on York Street reported Saturday that she found them all arranged on her front lawn. Officers believe they were stolen from several of her neighbors late Friday. They have no suspects, but anyone who is missing a solar powered light is asked to come to the Beaver Dam Police Department to identify their property.