Top Stories, October 22nd

Grant Funding Secured For Beaver Dam Projects

10/22/10 - The city of Beaver Dam was awarded $750,000 in grants for two projects. Mayor Tom Kennedy says the Department of Commerce is giving the city up to $400,000 for the Lakeview Hospital Redevelopment project. The project is largely private, though the city will be involved with infrastructure improvements including an extension of Third Street. Kennedy says it is also contingent on the investors, Lakeside Pueblo Corporation, receiving approval of loan financing through the USDA’s Rural Development Office before mid-January. Kennedy says the city also received a contract agreement letter from the Commerce Department verifying that a $350,000 Community Development Block Gran is on its way. The city had previously received preliminary approval of the plan to fix the north side sanitary lift station at Starkweather Drive instead of enlarging the culverts under Cooper Street, which is what the money was originally awarded for. Kennedy says the lift station is more cost effective and more practical. Director of Utilities Don Quarford says the grant funding should cover most of the project, which is the design phase and will be completed in the next year.

Woman Accused of Poisoning Husband

10/22/10 - A former Town of Clyman woman accused of trying to her husband, waived her right to a preliminary hearing yesterday in Dodge County court. Marja Prasalowicz waived her right to a preliminary hearing yesterday in Dodge County court on a felony charge of Placing Foreign Objects in Edibles. According to the criminal complaint, the 31-year-old put sleeping pills in soda, coffee and water bottles. Her husband became suspicious in August after the drinks began tasting like insect killer. She initially denied the allegations to her husband, and reportedly drank a bottle of water the victim believed was tainted. He says she then became somewhat woozy. Prasalowicz allegedly admitted the poisoning saying she did it because he wasn’t sleeping well. The charge carries a maximum three-and-a-half year prison sentence. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for next month.

Security Heightened Following BDCH Lockdown

10/22/10 - Deputy Police Chief Dan Schubert tells us that his officers have stepped up security at the Beaver Dam Community Hospital following a gun threat that resulted in a lockdown of the campus on Wednesday. Schubert says a 62-year-old man reportedly threatened by phone to bring a gun to the hospital. The man was located but did not bring a weapon to the hospital; he was not arrested but was escorted from the premises and banned from returning. The hospital’s Chief Operations Officer Mark Monson says the lockdown process worked and while there is a level of heightened security the facility is very safe and there have been no subsequent issues.

Voter Turnout Projected At 50%

10/22/10 - Half of Wisconsin’s adults are expected to vote November second. That prediction comes from Kevin Kennedy, the director of the state Government Accountability Board. He says the hot races for governor and U-S Senate will drive lots of people to the polls, along with a number of close contests for U-S House and the state Legislature. Kennedy says the turnout should be slightly less than the last off-presidential November election in 2006. Fifty-point-nine percent turned out, many for the constitutional ban on gay marriage and civil unions. It was the highest turnout for a mid-term election in 30 years. Next month’s turnout is expected to be about 10-percent higher than the average of around 40-percent.

Favre on Favre

10/22/10 - Brett Favre’s wife says her religious faith and an outward focus are helping her cope with all the talk about her husband’s sexual harassment allegations. Deanna Favre appeared on A-B-C’s “Good Morning America” today to talk about a book she co-authored called “The Cure for the Chronic Life.” It’s all about getting past difficult times and unhealthy behavior patterns. Of course, Deanna was asked about the N-F-L’s investigation into reports that former Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre sent lewd photos and text messages to Jenn Sterger when both worked for the New York Jets in 2008. Ms. Favre cited her faith, and did not say whether the allegations are true or false. Her husband has hardly said a word about the subject. He’s now calling it a “league matter,” and all he’s focusing on is his next game – which is Sunday night against his old team in Green Bay. If the league fines that Favre broke the N-F-L’s code-of-conduct, he could be suspended – and that would end his record number of consecutive games played, which is getting close to 300.

WTC Flag in Fondy Saturday

10/22/10 - The lone American flag that survived 9/11 at the World Trade Center is coming to Fond du Lac Saturday. It’s part of the inauguration ceremonies for Marian University President Steven DiSalvo. As it makes its way around the country pieces of other American flags are being stitched into it to restore it. DiSalvo says the public is welcome to attend the stitching ceremony, which is at 4:30 p.m. at the University Quad. The flag will be returned to New York in time for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.