Top Stories, December 1st

PFC Reaches Consensus On Police Chief

12/1/10 - We could find out who Beaver Dam’s next police chief is in the next week to 10 days. That’s according to Police and Fire Commission Chair Nancy Conley who says the PFC reached a consensus on a candidate in a closed, special session meeting last night. The field was narrowed to four in August and includes: Matthew Evans, former Chief of Police from Westchester, Illinois; John Fay, former Deputy Chief from Glencoe, Illinois; Steven Kopp, former Deputy Chief from Janesville, Wisconsin; and Ronald Smith, Lieutenant with the Norwalk, Connecticut Police Department. Conley says once the offer has been accepted in writing, the commission will vote on the hiring. She says that could happen before the PFC’s next regular meeting on Tuesday, December 7. The candidate chosen will succeed Dale Boldt, who retired in May.

Smash and Grab Burglar Probation Revoked

12/1/10 - A Beaver Dam man who burglarized a gas station four years ago will be going to prison for a year-and-a-half after having probation revoked. James E. Luck was one of four people who smashed the front doors of the Beaver Dam North Plaza Shell back in October of 2006 and stole cash cigarettes and other items. The 21-year-old had his probation revoked yesterday following an August arrest for Felon In Possession of a Firearm. Luck has a jury trial on the new felony charge scheduled next month.

Waupun Adopts Zero Increase Budget

12/1/10 - For the second consecutive year, the Waupun Common Council adopted their 2011 budget with no increase in the tax levy. The budget approved last night totals $6.9-million, which is a 1.1-percent increase over 2010. City official’s credit revenue increases from items like state transportation aid for the tax freeze. The mill rate for Waupun residents in Dodge County will stay at $6.19 per thousand, the same as this year. Waupun residents in Fond du Lac County will pay the same $6.19 per thousand, but that’s actually down from the $6.33 per thousand from this year.

Fall River Adopts Budget

12/1/10 - Fall River trustees passed a $1.5 million dollar 2011 Village Budget last night. Village Trustee Jeff Slotten said the Budget was drafted with conservative cost estimates. There will be no wage increases for Village employees in 2011, although there will be increases in health insurance premiums and Wisconsin Retirement. Slotten said the $45 thousand dollar increase in the tax levy is still well below the $681 thousand dollar levy limit. The Budget will result in an increase of 7.5 per cent in the mil rate from $5.73 per thousand in 2010 to $6.16 cents per thousand in 2011. That means a property owner with a $150 thousand dollar home would pay $924 in taxes for the Village portion of the December tax bill.

Wisconsin High-Tech Exports Decline

12/1/10 - Wisconsin has been selling fewer of its high-tech products overseas. A report by the Tech-American Foundation said businesses in the Badger State had eight-percent fewer high-tech exports last year, compared to 2008. But that’s only half the national decrease of 16-percent. The foundation said Wisconsin ranks 13th in the amount of high-tech products it sells to foreign countries – three-point-two billion dollars’ worth in 2009. And the Badger State was far from the only one to see a decrease. Only four states bucked the recession to sell more high-tech goods overseas – Alaska, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Wyoming. The report said Wisconsin is the nation’s seventh-largest exporter of electro-medical equipment, and the 10th-largest exporter of computers and electronic components. The Tech-American group said 19-percent of Wisconsin’s total exports involve high-tech equipment – and they employ over 12-thousand people in the state.

Political Check-Off Donations Down

12/1/10 - The number of Wisconsinites who use their income tax returns to support publicly-financed political campaigns hit an all-time low last year. Only 161-thousand people designated one-dollar for the state’s Election Campaign Fund. That’s four-percent of all tax filers – only half as many as about a decade ago. Candidates who agree to limit their spending can take advantage of the tax funding. But many don’t – and we’ve been seeing multi-million-dollar races for governor and some other high offices. Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says he’s disappointed at the low participation in the political fund check-off. But he’s not surprised, saying that people have seen that elections have become auctions – and they want to know they’re investing in something that can quote, “turn those auctions back into elections.” And until that happens, McCabe says won’t spend even a dollar on the process. Still, he says there are many times more people investing in the check-off than who give directly to politicians. For the next returns, the check-off will rise to three-dollars – and most of the money will go to Supreme Court races.

Walker Announces Chief-Of-Staff

12/1/10 - The man who ran Scott Walker’s campaign will stay with the new governor as chief-of-staff. Keith Gilkes was named Tuesday as Walker’s top aide once the Republican governor-elect takes office on January third. It’s the first major appointment of the new administration. Walker’s transition team is coming up with recommendations for the new cabinet. Gilkes is a political consultant, and he’s no stranger to the State Capitol. He ran an effort to give Republicans the majority in the state Senate in 2006 – and he’s been a Senate policy adviser. He had been with the Walker campaign for about a year-and-a-half. The governor-elect says Gilkes is a “trusted adviser” who did an outstanding job in helping Walker win the election earlier this month. Gilkes is originally from Prairie du Chien.

Female Trucker Push Underway

12/1/10 - A Wisconsin group is trying to get more women to pursue trucking as a career. Ellen Voie of the Women-in-Trucking Association says females only make up less than five-percent of what she calls a very male-dominated environment on the road. She says men also dominate other parts of the industry, including leadership and office roles. Voie’s group is based in Plover. It works with manufacturers on ways to make trucks accommodate women better. And they work with travel centers to understand the needs of female truck drivers. She said the industry is becoming more female-friendly, but it’s got a long way to go. The American Trucking Association reported a shortage of drivers five years ago – but of course, the recession changed all that. Now, Voie says women can play a pivotal role in filling needed trucking jobs once the economy gets back up to speed.
Fox Lake Elementary as a Charter School?


12/1/10 - A task force has decided to recommend that the former Fox Lake Elementary reopen as a charter school. The group finalized the decision and set parameters for the school last night. In the first year the school would run kindergarten through 6th grade, a second year would include 7th graders, and the third year would allow for 8th graders. Interim Superintendent Don Childs says the school will focus on agriculture and environmental studies, with an emphasis on using technology and field work to better students learning. The building was one of three in the district to close at the end of the 2008-2009 school year due to cost cutting measures, so Fox Lake Mayor Tom Bednarek says reopening it would be huge for the community. Officials say reopening the building would not have an impact on the districts tax levy, though they do expect a slight increase in operating costs. The task force will make their recommendation to the Waupun School Board later this month and, if approved, it could be ready to open as early as next fall.

Horicon Passes 2011 Budget

12/1/10 - City of Horicon residents are looking at a 20-cent increase to their mill rate for 2011. The city council unanimously approved the $3.4-million budget last night, which saw a spending increase of about 3-percent over the current year. The total tax levy is up 3.2-percent to $1.8-million, which makes the mill rate $9.74 per thousand before the TIF districts are factored in. Owners of a property worth $100,000 would pay $974 for the city portion of their tax bill.

Deer Harvest Numbers up 11% Statewide

12/1/10 - Wisconsin deer hunters fared better than a year ago. The D-N-R said over 218-thousand deer were taken during the nine-day gun season that ended last Sunday. That’s an 11-percent increase from last year – when the harvest was the lowest in 27 years. The numbers were even higher in Dodge County where hunters bagged a total of 3,040 deer, a 38-percent increase over 2009. Other area counties were up as well, including Fond du Lac County at 32-percent, Washington County at 12-percent, Jefferson County at 9.5-percent, and Columbia County at 1.5-percent. The D-N-R’s Keith Warnke said hunters seemed to be pleased with the season in general. They said the weather was better on Opening Day than a year ago, when it was foggy in lots of places. Also, Warnke said hunters saw more deer-per-hours-hunted than in ’09. For the first time since 1974, no hunters were shot-to-death. But 12 people were injured.

Top Stories, November 30th

Names Released in Fatal Rollover

11/30/10 - The names of those involved in a fatal accident in the city of Beaver Dam Sunday morning have been released. Authorities say 22-year-old Diamond M. Avalos of Beaver Dam was killed in the one vehicle rollover on the 400 block of North Spring Street, right in front of the Beaver Dam Middle School. 19-year-old Guadalupe Rodriguez Jr. of Beaver Dam was ejected and was transported to Beaver Dam Community Hospital before being flighted to UW Hospital in Madison. Their passenger car was traveling southbound on North Spring Street at a high rate of speed when the driver went through the Mackie Street stop light, lost control around the curve and struck some small trees before rolling over at least one time. Neither occupant was believed to be wearing a seatbelt. Authorities have not said who was driving. Speed is said to have played a part in the crash but it is unknown if alcohol was also a contributing factor. The Dodge County Crash Investigation Team and the Beaver Dam Police Department continue their investigating.

Watertown Woman Charged With $17K Embezzlement

11/30/10 - A former bookkeeper with the Lebanon Sanitation Department is accused of embezzling over $17,000. Brenda Hollenbeck of Watertown is charged with Theft In A Business Setting Over $10,000 and four counts of Forgery, all felonies. The 44-year-old allegedly wrote numerous checks to herself from the Sanitary District, cashed them and then kept the money. In four instances she reportedly forged her bosses signature. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for mid-January. If convicted, Hollenbeck could spend up to 34 years in prison.

Beaver Dam Woman Charged With Burglarizing Neighbor

11/30/10 - A Beaver Dam woman is accused of burglarizing her neighbor’s house. 28-year-old Michelle Behrle is charged with felony Burglary and misdemeanor Theft. The victim told police that she accidentally left her door unlocked and when she returned home, she discovered her iPod missing and her laptop power cord gone. She also had $30 worth of winning lottery tickets taken from her coffee table. The victim noted that they were new Wisconsin State Lottery Green Bay Packer tickets, so new they were numbers #9 and #10. Authorities used that information to find out where the tickets were cashed and then reviewed video surveillance footage. According to the criminal complaint, Behrle says she found the lottery tickets in her backyard and blamed area kids. The 28-year-old also reportedly told investigators that when she learned her neighbor had her laptop power cord stolen, she gave the neighbor a spare. Detectives were able to determine based on the serial number that the spare power cord actually belonged to the victim. Behrle faces over 13 year in prison, if convicted. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing scheduled for next month.

Journalism Group Questions Didion Grants

11/30/10 - The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism is calling into question the decision to award over five-and-a-half million federal stimulus dollars to Didion Milling in Cambria to create green energy jobs. The corn-milling and ethanol plant was found guilty of numerous violations of the federal Clean Water Act, only a month before Governor Jim Doyle announced an energy-efficiency grant for the company last year. Also, the journalism group found that Didion settled a state lawsuit five months after Doyle’s announcement. The firm paid just over a million dollars to settle 23 air-and-water violations since 1999. The Center for Investigative Journalism also uncovered records under the open meetings law that the U-S Energy Department never asked about the company’s environmental record before awarding the grant. The company didn’t volunteer it, and Doyle didn’t say a word about it – even though the Justice Department had been working on the lawsuit at the time. The governor’s office has not commented. Didion pointed to the job creation and clean-energy benefits of the stimulus grant, but refused to discuss its violations. Consultants for the state’s Focus-on-Energy program said they recommended stimulus funds for Didion Milling – and they never considered the firm’s environmental record because the application did not require it. Didion says the grant will help it use 25-percent less energy for making its ethanol. It planned to hire 75 people this year and 10 more later on.

Fox Lake Charter School Possible

11/30/10 - It appears as though a task force working to determine the future of the former Fox Lake Elementary will recommend the building reopen as a charter school. The group, made up of residents and school board members, will meet Tuesday night to make a final decision but it’s believed they’ll make the charter school recommendation to the Waupun School Board in December. Interim Superintendent Don Childs says if they do decide to go in that direction they will put together a pamphlet to send out to the community with information. The building was one of three closed at the end of the 2008-2009 school year as a cost cutting measure.

Jefferson County Gets Permanent Drug Drop-Off

11/30/10 - Jefferson County now has a permanent pharmaceutical drug collection site. Sheriff Paul Milbrath and his office worked with the county’s Solid Waste/Air Quality Committee for the past year and obtained approval from the Drug Enforcement Agency for the drop-off site. It’s located in the jail lobby of the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office on South Center Avenue in Jefferson and its open 24 hours a day year round. Prescription and non-prescription drugs are accepted, along with vitamins and pet medicines. The drugs should be kept in their original containers, so they can be properly disposed of, with the name and prescription numbers scratched out. Items not accepted include sharp needles, radioactive materials, oxygen tanks and nebulizers. The drug drop-off is only available to Jefferson County residents. Hospice, group homes and assisted living homes are also permitted to use the site. Hospitals, group homes and pharmacies are required to do their own disposal.

Juneau FD Responds To Small Porch Fire

11/30/10 - The Juneau Fire Department responded to a minor porch fire in the Town of Oak Grove Sunday night. Chief Curt Ninmann says the call at N5098 County Highway A was reported by a neighbor just before 8:30pm. Ninmann says the homeowner extinguished the flames prior to the department’s arrival and damage was limited to a small portion of the homes front porch. A thermal imaging camera was used to make sure the fire did not spread into the walls of the home and the scene was cleared in about a half hour. It is not known how the fire started.

Top Stories, November 29th

Fatal Wreck Near BDMS Under Investigation

11/29/10 - One person was killed and another was seriously injured following a rollover accident in front of the Beaver Dam Middle School early yesterday (Sun) morning. The wreck occurred on the 400 block of North Spring Street at 1:37am. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says the passenger car was traveling southbound on North Spring at a high rate of speed when the driver went through the Mackie Street stop light, lost control around the curve and struck several small trees before rolling over at least one time. The deceased is a 22-year-old Beaver Dam woman. The other occupant was a 19-year-old Beaver Dam man who was ejected. He was transported to Beaver Dam Community Hospital before being flown to UW Hospital in Madison where he was last listed in critical condition. Neither occupant was believed to be wearing a seatbelt. Authorities have not said who was driving. Authorities have not said if alcohol played a part but Nehls says nothing has been ruled out. He says though that speed definitely played a big part. The Dodge County Crash Investigation Team and the Beaver Dam Police Department are investigating.

Head-On, Wrong-Way Fatal in Watertown

11/29/10 - The Jefferson County Sheriffs Department is investigating a fatal accident that occurred Saturday afternoon in the town of Watertown. Sheriff Paul Milbrath says wreck occurred just before 3pm on State Highway 26 near Emerald Road. Witnesses report the driver of a northbound Toyota Camry apparently thought Highway 26 was a four-lane and began driving in the southbound lanes and remained there, even after avoiding one oncoming vehicle. The driver of the Toyota then struck a second oncoming vehicle, a Nissan Quest. The driver of the Nissan was transported by Flight for Life to Froedtert Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene.

Busy Sunday Morning For Local Law Enforcement

11/29/10- It was a busy Sunday morning for law enforcement in Dodge County. Sheriff Nehls says officers were “going like gang-busters all night.” About one hour into an investigation of a fatal wreck, Beaver Dam police were called to a car accident report at the Kwik Trip on North Spring Street. A 23-year-old Waupun man was taken into custody at the scene on bail jumping charges. Both he and a 21-year-old Markesan man were cited for driving with open intoxicants. At the same time, deputies responded to Cordelia Street in the City of Fox Lake where a 41-year-old man was taken into custody for domestic battery and felony false imprisonment. About a half hour later, just after 3am, deputies responded to another fight in Fox Lake where two women were separated for the night. Nehls says “everybody must have been celebrating something because alcohol seemingly played a factor in several of the calls.”

One Injured In Wreck Involving Manure Spreader

11/29/10 - One person was injured following an accident involving a manure spreader. Authorities say it happened around 5:15pm Saturday on Highway 60 and County Road P in the Town of Rubicon. Jesus Rivas of Hartford was driving a farm tractor that was pulling the manure spreader; the 19-year-old was transported to Hartford Hospital. The 74-year-old driver of the other vehicle was not injured.

Hunters Shoot House, Truck in Dodge County

11/29/10 - We don’t have all the numbers just yet for this year’s deer harvest but we do know hunters in Dodge County shot at least one house and bagged one truck this weekend. Beaver Dam Police Lt. John Kreuziger says a home was struck by a bullet on Marsh Trial, which is a new subdivision located on the far southeastern edge of the city. He says the round went through the house and lodged in the basement. No one was at home at the time. It’s believed that the shooting happened between 4pm and 6pm Friday. Then on Sunday morning, the Dodge County Sheriffs received a report that a car window was shot out at Kountry Korners in the Town if Lomira. There are no suspects and no injuries reported. Also yesterday, a 31-year-old man reported that two guns were stolen from his unlocked truck which was parked in the DNR area near Highway’s 41 and 28 in the Town of Theresa. Anyone with information on any of the incidents is asked to contact local authorities or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

Lawsuit Filed Against Dodge County Construction Company

11/29/10 - A former employee of Michels Corporation of Brownsville has filed a federal lawsuit saying she was fired for going to rehab. 44-year-old Lynne Kossow of Jackson says the Dodge County construction company violated the Americans-with-Disabilities-Act and she is seeking un-specified damages. Kossow had 14-years sobriety when she relapsed and went back into treatment. The suit said she tried to withhold notes of personal comments made in her therapy sessions – but the employer demanded the notes, and she was fired soon after the company got them. The lawsuit claims that the Michels Corporation broke the law by seeking too broad of a release of medical records. The company says it looks forward to defending the lawsuit.

Local FSA Election Deadline Is Next Monday

11/29/10 - Dodge County Farm Service Agency elections are underway. FSA Executive Director Susan Blachowiak says it’s crucial that every eligible producer take part in the election because the county committees are a “direct link between the farm community and the US Department of Agriculture and help deliver and administer farm programs in their counties.” Producers from the townships of Clyman, Elba, Emmet, Hustisford, Lebanon, Lowell, Portland and Shields will be electing their representative this year.

The candidates are Roger Hildebrandt and Patricia Lauersdorf. Hildebrandt lives in the town of Hustisford and has been the county committee representative for the past three years. He is a dairy producer growing corn, soybeans, hay, oats & wheat for the last 29 years. Lauersdorf owns farmland and is a life-long resident of the town of Lowell. She was a FSA employee for over 27 years where she was responsible for administering farm programs until her retirement in 2009.

Producers must return ballots in person to the local Dodge County FSA Office by the close of business on December 6. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by December 6. The office is located at 451 West North Street in Juneau. Eligible voters from these townships who did not receive a ballot can obtain one at the USDA Service Center. Newly-elected committee members and alternates take office January 1.

AirVenture To Pay Tribute To SpaceShipOne

11/29/10 - Organizers of the annual AirVenture in Oshkosh say they are already working on next summer's event. The Experimental Aircraft Association says it will pay tribute to legendary aviators Burt Rutan and Bob Hoover this time. Rutan was the designer of SpaceShipOne, the first private manned craft to make it to space. Hoover flew nearly 60 missions in World War II, then had a legendary air show and air racing career. Next summer's show is going to have a Navy Day, featuring naval aircraft from the past century in Oshkosh.

DNR Urging Pier Owners To Register

11/29/10 - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging property owners to register their large piers by April 1. A law passed in 2004 had exempted those larger piers -- until follow up legislation was passed two years ago. It also exempted most of the same piers, but not all. Owners whose piers don't qualify under the newer law have to either downsize or get a state permit. Water officials say large piers damage aquatic plants by blocking their sunlight -- and that, in turn, hurts the fish population. The larger piers can also interfere with boaters, swimmers and people who own property nearby.

Delinquent Taxpayer Website Successful

11/29/10 - Four years ago the state of Wisconsin launched a website listing delinquent taxpayers. It's working. By the end of October the website was being given credit for 108 million dollars in collections. When it was started the list included the names of people who owed at least 20 thousand dollars. Later, that limit was dropped to five thousand. Today, the state Department of Revenue reports there are nearly 20 thousand names on the website -- of people who owe nearly 771 million dollars in taxes, interest and fees.

No Call List Deadline Tuesday

11/29/10 - Telemarketers could start ringing your phone again, if you're slow about calling to stay on the state's no-call list. Tuesday is the deadline. Those who sign up with have their phone numbers put on the no-call list starting January 1. The next chance to block those calls won't come until April. You can put land line or cell phone numbers on the state's list, but you have to renew your registration every two years. The state reports there are almost 2-point-3 million phone numbers on the no-call list right now. About half are cell phone numbers. Wisconsin established its no-call list seven years ago. To get on the list call 866-9NO-CALL or go to:

https://nocall.wisconsin.gov/web/home.asp

DCLCD Small Packet Tree Sales Continue

11/29/10 - Trees and shrubs are still available for the annual fall Small Packet Tree sales program in Dodge County. The Land Conservation Department is offering several species of trees for sale for the 2011 planting season, including red and white Oak, White Cedar, Norway Spruce, Silver Maple and American Cranberry Bush. Most trees are sold in bundles of 25 for $23 per bundle. The deadline to place orders is January 28, but there are limited amounts of some species, so early orders are encouraged. For more information or to get an order form, contact the Dodge County Land Conservation Department at 386-3660.

http://www.co.dodge.wi.us/conservation/landserv.html#treesales

Top Stories, November 28th

Rollover Fatality Near Beaver Dam Middle School

11/28/10 - One person is dead and one person has been seriously injured following a rollover accident in the city of Beaver Dam early this morning. The accident occurred on the 400 block of North Spring Street, right in front of the Beaver Dam Middle School, just after 1:30am. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says the passenger car was traveling southbound on North Spring at a high rate of speed when the driver went through the stop light, lost control around the curve and struck several small trees before rolling over. The deceased is a female in her 20’s who was ejected. The other occupant was a male who was flown to UW Hospital in Madison and is in critical condition. North Spring Street was closed for over four hours this morning and re-opened just before 6am.

Head-On Fatality In Watertown

11/28/10 - A fatal accident occurred Saturday afternoon in the town of Watertown. According to Jefferson County Sheriff Paul Milbrath, the wreck occurred just before 3pm on State Highway 26 near Emerald Road. Milbrath says that witnesses report the driver of a northbound Toyota Camry apparently thought Highway 26 was a four-lane and began driving in the southbound lanes and remained there, even after avoiding one oncoming vehicle. The driver of the Toyota then struck a second oncoming vehicle, a Nissan Quest. The driver of the Nissan was transported by Flight for Life to Froedtert Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene. Neither vehicle had any passengers. The Jefferson County Crash Investigation Unit is investigating.

Busy Sunday Morning For Law Enforcement

11/28/10 - It was a busy Sunday morning for law enforcement in Dodge County. Sheriff Nehls says officers were “going like gang-busters all night.” He says everybody must have been celebrating something because alcohol seemingly played a factor in several of the calls. About one hour into an investigation of a fatal wreck, Beaver Dam officers were called to a car accident at the Kwik Trip on North Spring Street. A 23-year-old Waupun man was taken into custody at the scene on bail jumping charges. Both he and a 21-year-old Markesan man were cited for driving with open intoxicants. At the same time, deputies responded to Cordelia Street in the City of Fox Lake where a 41-year-old man was taken into custody for domestic battery and felony false imprisonment. About a half hour later, just after 3am, deputies responded to another fight in Fox Lake where two women were separated for the night.

Woman Free on Bail Following Toy Store Gun Threat

11/28/10 - A Middleton woman is free on bail after an altercation at a Toys R Us store Thursday night. With people lined up for a 10 p.m. opening of the store, ahead of Black Friday, police say Lanessa Lattimore tried to move to the head of the line, passing several hundred shoppers. When some in that line objected, Lattimore is accused of threatening to get a gun and shoot them. No gun was found, but the 21 year old was arrested for disorderly conduct.

Hunter Charged With Shooting Into Home

11/28/10 - A bullet from a hunter's gun reportedly passed through a home in Potosi, missing the homeowner by about eight feet. The hunter reportedly fired three shots at a buck from about a half-mile away. Deputies found a hole in the home's dining room. The bullet apparently passed through two interior walls of the home, hitting a metal gun safe in a bedroom. Sixty-five year old Ruth Kartman was not injured. The 26 year old hunter could be charged with endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon.

Student Confesses To Dorm Fires

11/28/10 - Fox Point police say the 20 year old student they arrested in connection with fires set in a Cardinal Stritch University residence hall has confessed. Police say they will ask for arson charges to be filed against the sophomore from Brazil. No motive has been given for the crimes. The suspect is one of 25 students who were interviewed by police. He lived at Clare Residence Hall, but it was mostly empty at the time due to the Thanksgiving break. Three fires were discovered last Thursday. The residence hall is expected to re-open for students no later than noon today (Sunday).

AirVenture To Pay Tribute To SpaceShipOne

11/28/10 - Organizers of the annual AirVenture in Oshkosh say they are already working on next summer's event. The Experimental Aircraft Association says it will pay tribute to legendary aviators Burt Rutan and Bob Hoover this time. Rutan was the designer of SpaceShipOne, the first private manned craft to make it to space. Hoover flew nearly 60 missions in World War II, then had a legendary air show and air racing career. Next summer's show is going to have a Navy Day, featuring naval aircraft from the past century in Oshkosh.

DNR Urging Pier Owners To Register

11/28/10 - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging property owners to register their large piers by April 1. A law passed in 2004 had exempted those larger piers -- until follow up legislation was passed two years ago. It also exempted most of the same piers, but not all. Owners whose piers don't qualify under the newer law have to either downsize or get a state permit. Water officials say large piers damage aquatic plants by blocking their sunlight -- and that, in turn, hurts the fish population. The larger piers can also interfere with boaters, swimmers and people who own property nearby.

Delinquent Taxpayer Website Successful

11/28/10 - Four years ago the state of Wisconsin launched a website listing delinquent taxpayers. It's working. By the end of October the website was being given credit for 108 million dollars in collections. When it was started the list included the names of people who owed at least 20 thousand dollars. Later, that limit was dropped to five thousand. Today, the state Department of Revenue reports there are nearly 20 thousand names on the website -- of people who owe nearly 771 million dollars in taxes, interest and fees.

No Call List Deadline Tuesday

11/28/10 - Telemarketers could start ringing your phone again, if you're slow about calling to stay on the state's no-call list. Tuesday is the deadline. Those who sign up with have their phone numbers put on the no-call list starting January 1. The next chance to block those calls won't come until April. You can put land line or cell phone numbers on the state's list, but you have to renew your registration every two years. The state reports there are almost 2-point-3 million phone numbers on the no-call list right now. About half are cell phone numbers. Wisconsin established its no-call list seven years ago. To get on the list call 866-9NO-CALL or go to:

https://nocall.wisconsin.gov/web/home.asp

DCLCD Small Packet Tree Sales Continue

11/28/10 - Trees and shrubs are still available for the annual fall Small Packet Tree sales program in Dodge County. The Land Conservation Department is offering several species of trees for sale for the 2011 planting season, including red and white Oak, White Cedar, Norway Spruce, Silver Maple and American Cranberry Bush. Most trees are sold in bundles of 25 for $23 per bundle. The deadline to place orders is January 28, but there are limited amounts of some species, so early orders are encouraged. For more information or to get an order form, contact the Dodge County Land Conservation Department at 386-3660. http://www.co.dodge.wi.us/conservation/landserv.html#treesales

Top Stories, November 27th

Dodge County Company Sued For Firing

11/27/10 - A former risk manager for a Dodge County construction firm is suing her old bosses, saying they fired her for seeking alcohol treatment. 44-year-old Lynne Kossow of Jackson has asked a federal judge for un-specified damages, saying the Michels Corporation of Brownsville violated the Americans-with-Disabilities-Act. Kossow was a risk manager for the company. According to the lawsuit, she had a relapse of alcoholism after 14 years of being sober – and she told her bosses she would immediately get treatment. Kossow said she went against the advice of her doctor and hospital by letting her company’s employee assistance program obtain her medical records. The suit said she tried to withhold notes of personal comments made in her therapy sessions – but the employer demanded notes, and she was fired soon after the company got them. The lawsuit claims that the Michels Corporation broke the A-D-A law by seeking too broad of a release of medical records, and retaliating against Kossow for holding back her therapy notes. The company says it looks forward to defending the lawsuit.

Columbus Pair Proceed To Arraignment

11/27/10 - Two Columbus residents will proceed to trial on charges of assaulting a five-year-old girl. 31-year-old Heidi Duesing-Christensen faces up to 29-years in prison if she is convicted on charges of child enticement, neglect and reckless endangerment. Police said Duesing-Christensen not only struck her daughter but also locked her in a bedroom for long periods of time with no food or bathroom. Prosecutors said the girl also received an overdose of a cold medicine to get her to sleep. 38-year-old Kenneth Faria faces up to 28 years in prison on charges of physical abuse of a child and first-degree sexual assault of a child younger than age 12. The girl was sent to live with her father in Arizona last year and Faria was charged after the girl told a nurse about the alleged incidents of molestation. Duesing-Christensen told investigators that the girl would have fits that were so bad that she had to be pinned down to get her to stop. Duesing-Christensen has an arraignment hearing scheduled just before Christmas while Faria will be arraigned after the New Year.

Fond du Lac Bus Driver Enters Alford Plea

11/27/10 - A former school bus driver will be sentenced on charges he sexually assaulted a child. William Rangel entered an Alford plea last week in the case. An Alford plea is the same as a guilty plea, but it doesn't force the defendant to admit committing the crime. Rangel was accused of assaulting an 8 year old girl who wasn't riding his bus, and exposing himself to a 9 year old girl who was. The 58 year old man from Fond du Lac has been held in jail since October of last year.

Rail Line Proponents To Form Network

11/27/10 - Midwestern states hoping to form a network of high-speed trains are finding their project interrupted by Wisconsin. Governor-elect Scott Walker has says he will reject federal stimulus money for a line between Madison and Milwaukee that has a stopover in Watertown. He calls it a waste of taxpayer money. But, without that segment, the vision of having 110 mile per hour trains offering service between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago is in jeopardy. Backers call it the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative. They're not giving up, in fact, more than a million dollars is being spent on an environmental impact study. Fourteen routes are being considered, with three of them bypassing Madison. One route follows Amtrak’s current Empire Builder through Columbus and another goes through Fond du Lac.

Meteorite On Display At UW

11/27/10 - Remember the meteorite that landed in southwest Wisconsin in April? Five fragments are now part of the permanent collection at the U-W Madison Geology Museum. The meteorite lit up the night sky in parts of Wisconsin and neighboring states. In August, the Meteoritical Society classified it as an ordinary chondrite meteorite – and it was given the name “Mifflin,” to recognize the town where most of the chunks landed. Scientists say the meteorite appeared to part of an asteroid that was separated between Jupiter and Mars about 470 million years ago. Eight fragments of the Mifflin Meteorite are now on display at the U-W Geology Museum. Three are part of the university’s permanent collection, and five others are on loan. Mifflin is one of 14 meteorites which are known to have landed in the Badger State – and six of those meteorites are a part of the current museum display.

State Cranberry Growers Thankful

11/27/10 - If you were fortunate enough to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast, you probably consumed a lot of cranberries. Tom Lochner, Executive Director of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association, says even though you’ll likely see a lot more of the state’s official fruit throughout the holiday season, that’s just a small fraction of the overall market. He says most of the tangy delight is marketed in products other than fresh fruit. “Maybe 3- to 5-percent of the crop is sold as fresh fruit in the bags that people see in the stores. The rest is in a processed product such as sweetened dried berries or the sauces or the cranberry juice drinks.” Wisconsin’s cranberry industry currently provides nearly 350 million dollars annually to the state’s economy and supports over 7-thousand jobs across the state.

Ground Broken On Energy Research Facility

11/27/10 - Ground has been broken on an energy research facility on the UW Madison campus. Governor Jim Doyle, who provided $50 million in state funding for the new Wisconsin Energy Institute in his 2009-2011 budget, said the work to be done there can decrease dependence on fuel sources from out of state. The first phase of construction is funded by the $50 million Doyle provided in the budget, along with an additional $4 million in private funding. A second phase will require raising an additional $50 million in private sector money

Wisconsin Firm Tabbed For MN Bridge Project

11/27/10 - A Wisconsin company is expected to help Minnesota’s Twin Cities avoid a potential traffic nightmare. Lunda Construction of Black River Falls is waiting to be certified, after it submitted the apparent low bid to replace the Lafayette-Highway 52 bridge in Saint Paul. Minnesota officials rated the bridge as “fracture critical” in the wake of the Interstate-35 bridge collapse – and it has since undergone inspections and other repairs. Lunda offered to fix the Lafayette Bridge for 130-million dollars. A new northbound span will be built first, in the hope of alleviating a traffic nightmare for people heading into Saint Paul from the south.

Invasive Species Study

11/27/10 - The Asian carp isn’t the only thing being studied, as the Army Corps of Engineers looks for ways to prevent migrations between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. Major General John Peabody says his agency is looking at ridding the waterways of many types of invasive species. Congress approved the massive study in 2007, and it provided 25-million-dollars for it last year. Peabody says the study is complex in scope. He says it will take time, support, and cooperation as the Army Corps studies over a-thousand miles of waterways. But the head of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Joel Brammeier, said the Corps should be further along. He knows something won’t happen overnight – but he’s disappointed that the project is still in the planning stages. Peabody expects a final recommendation by 2015. It could result in separating the link between the Great Lakes at Chicago, and the carp-infested Mississippi River.

Top Stories, November 26th

Man Arrested For Wielding Shotgun in Downtown Mayville

11/26/10 - A 30-year-old man was arrested this morning for allegedly brandishing a shotgun during an altercation in downtown Mayville. Police Captain Chris MacNeill says Troy Meier of Mayville was intoxicated when he exited a tavern and approached two men outside and accused them of stealing his coat. When they denied the allegation, MacNeill says Meier pulled a small knife threatening to kill them. The two men disarmed him and Meier reportedly retrieved a shotgun from his vehicle and began to walk to the tavern. At that point the men fled to another tavern and locked themselves inside until police arrived. No shots were ever fired, no one was injured and Meier was taken into custody without incident. Charges are being forwarded to the Dodge County District Attorney’s office.

Standoff in Waukesha Ends

11/26/10 - A 51-year-old Waukesha man faces at least two criminal charges, after he held police at bay for almost five hours at his apartment on Thanksgiving. Police said they wanted to question the man for a robbery on Wednesday. His wife told officers he was home yesterday morning, and he was armed with a knife. She left, and a police SWAT team circled the home to try and get the man to surrender. They finally shot chemical munitions into the apartment a little before three yesterday afternoon. The suspect came out a few minutes later, and he was arrested without further incident. Officers said the man could be charged with domestic abuse and resisting arrest.

Meredith Waives Prelim In 2005 Budglary

11/26/10 - Beaver Dam man, implicated in a burglary from 2005, has waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Blood found at the scene of the Elm Street break-in was connected to Kodey B. Meredith after a routine search of the DNA Data Bank at the State Crime Lab. His DNA was collected following a recent felony conviction for Fleeing and Eluding Police. According to the criminal complaint, the 20-year-old broke into the garage of the home in Beaver Dam and stole a wallet with cash and credit cards. Meredith is charged with a felony count of Burglary and misdemeanor Theft and Criminal Damage To Property. If convicted, the charges carry a maximum 14-year prison term. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for next month.

One Year In Prison For Police Chase

11/26/10 - A Burnett man will spend one year in prison for running from police. Curtis Alexander was also sentenced to one year of extended supervision for the incident this past May. Authorities say the 28-year-old fled when deputies attempted a 4am traffic stop in Fox Lake. The chase wound through several city streets before Alexander drove between houses and left on foot. He was driving his girlfriends vehicle but he was tied to the incident because he left his court documents in the car before running. Alexander was later tracked down at his apartment.

Jail Time For OWI Causing Injury

11/26/10 - A Hartford woman will spend 150 days in jail for a drunken driving accident that injured one person. Emma Flores pleaded “guilty” this week to a single charge of OWI Causing Injury. The two-car wreck occurred June 22 in the Town of Rubicon and resulted in injuries to the driver of the other car. The 30-year-old Flores had a blood alcohol level over three times the legal limit. Flores also had her license suspended for two years.

Lake Shore Drive Meeting Details

11/26/10 - The details of a planned Public Informational Meeting for Beaver Dam’s Lake Shore Drive reconstruction project have been released. The sessions next week are meant to give residents an opportunity to better understand the proposed project in advance of an official public hearing the following week. The reconstruction from Oneida to Denning would include curb and gutter, decorative street lighting and sidewalk installation on both sides of the street. This is the first time the city is hosting such a meeting in advance of a public hearing. At this week’s Operations Committee meeting, Alderman Robert Butler said it’s important that all projects from this point on have as much opportunity for citizen input as possible. Committee Chair Laine Meyer said he was reluctant to all the sudden start holding the informational meetings because it looks like the city is playing favorites with certain residents. The committee this week also approved a design plan that includes a nine foot terrace, that’s the area between a sidewalk and the street. Having a nine-foot terrace would require the removal of 76 trees. The committee also considered the possibility of installing a five foot terrace, which would require the removal of 54 trees. The Public Informational Meetings will be held at the Community Library next Thursday, December 2, from 3pm to 4:30pm and again from 5:30pm to 7pm. On Wednesday, December 8, a formal public hearing will be held in the library at 6:30pm.

Unemployment Holds Steady in Dodge County

11/26/10 - Unemployment in the region held steady for the most part from September to October. The jobless rate in Dodge County remained at 7.2% over the two months period. That’s a full point-and-a-half lower than at the same time one year ago. Jefferson County was unchanged at 7.4% while Fond du Lac County stayed at 6.7%. Washington County increased one-tenth of a percent to 6.5%. There was a slight increase in Columbia County from 6.5% to 6.8%. Green Lake County is also up three-tenths to 7.4%. Eighteen counties remained unchanged from September while 14 saw decreases over the two-month period. Compared to a year ago, unemployment rates were down in every metro area, all but five counties and nearly every city. Beloit's unemployment rate was just over 14% for October, down from September - but still the highest in the state. Racine was second-highest at 12.9%. Wausau was ranked third at 10.5%. The overall unemployment rate for Wisconsin last month was 7%. Menominee County had the highest unemployment rate in the state, 14%, while Dane County had the lowest at 5%.Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman says she is “encouraged by positive signs of recovery” but she says “more work needs to be done to help job seekers across the state find employment.”

Minnesota Study Outlines High Speed Options

11/26/10 - A new study in Minnesota includes 14 alternatives for running a high-speed rail line from Chicago to the Twin Cities. And even if Wisconsin’s new governor kills the Milwaukee-to-Madison line, the study mentions other possible routes through the Badger State. Federal-and-state dollars paid for the study. Minnesota’s passenger rail director, Dan Krom, says none of the proposed routes have been ruled out. One would follow Amtrak’s current Empire Builder, which currently has several stops from Milwaukee-to-La Crosse but goes well north of Madison. Walker has said he would be open to that idea – but Congress would have to approve all the facilities on the line to accommodate a much-higher speed to 110-miles-an-hour. Other options in the Minnesota study would run the high-speed train to Fond du Lac, Neenah, and Stevens Point before heading west to the Gopher State. Or the line could bypass Wisconsin altogether, heading from Chicago through northern Illinois and into Iowa before heading up to Minnesota. But that would be a “nightmare scenario” according to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who lost the governor’s election. Barrett favored the Milwaukee-to-Madison route. And Cari Anne Renlund of Wisconsin’s D-O-T says it’s the only one which has had the required environmental studies. She said the Minnesota study had to look at all possible options, even though Wisconsin’s current transportation officials are not interested in giving up the Madison stop.

Monday Tornado’s Scrutinized

11/26/10 - Had Monday’s severe storms arrived six hours later, Walworth and Racine counties might not have had tornadoes. That’s according to National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Kuhlman, who said a strong low pressure system collided with unusually warm temperatures on Monday afternoon. Madison tied a record-high for the date of 64 degrees. Kuhlman said it was a perfect mix of conditions to spawn tornadoes – and had the storms occurred late Monday night when it was cooler, the twisters might not have formed. But as it was, they brought the total number of tornadoes in Wisconsin this year to 46. It’s the second-highest on record behind 2005 which had 62 tornadoes – including 27 in one day. This week’s twisters were both “E-F Ones,” the second-weakest category on the Weather Service scale. “E-F-Five” is the strongest. And Wisconsin has only had two of those in the last 30 years. They were in Barneveld in 1984, and Oakfield in 1996.

Top Stories, November 25th

Weather Affects Thanksgiving Travel

11/25/10 - If you’re traveling north today, a Winter Weather advisory covers about half of the state of Wisconsin. The northern and western parts are expecting to be hit by a winter storm during peak travel times. There is a threat of icing and up to three inches of snow in places like Rhinelander, Hayward and Wausau. Rainy and cold conditions are expected in the southeast. Colder weather is on the way in our area as well. It’s above the freezing point now but you can expect the temperature to steadily fall to around 23 degrees by 5pm. There is a chance of some scattered flurries after 10pm. A wind chill near zero degrees is in store for shoppers who want to take advantage of Black Friday sales.

Thanksgiving travel yesterday was marred with several car accidents and rollovers yesterday throughout the day and especially as the sun went down. Authorities advise the motoring public to drive cautiously and allow plenty of time to get to your destination.

Chamber Holds Economic Development Luncheon

11/25/10 - The Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce held their annual Economic Development Luncheon Wednesday afternoon. Mayor Tom Kennedy says in spite of a dismal economic climate, things are really good in Beaver Dam. He cited ongoing downtown revitalization efforts and extensive road and building construction. Kennedy says the city’s biggest plus is the $20 million dollar wastewater treatment plant being constructed with $10 million in grant funding which will keep utility bills among the lowest in the state. Dodge County Board Chairman Russ Kottke says there are good things going on all around the county. Kottke touted the $44.5 million dollar, state-of-the art Clearview Long Term Care and Rehabilitation facility, which he says is “on-schedule and well below budget.” Kottke also says the recently-implemented Marsh Country Health Alliance will be a great benefit to local taxpayers because many of the other counties in the state that house patients at Clearview will now be paying their fair share. The Chamber Economic Development Luncheon has traditionally been held the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but Chamber Director Phil Fritsche says beginning next year the event will be held in the beginning of November.

Juneau Adopts Budget

11/25/10 - The Juneau City Council approved the 2011 budget this week and taxpayers will see an increase. Clerk/Treasurer Gladys McKay says spending is down 8.4-percent but because of a nearly 4.8-percent drop in the city’s equalized value, taxes are going up. The total tax levy is just under $1.2-million, up 3.7-percent from this year. That leaves a mill rate of $7.86 per thousand, a 20-cent increase. Property taxes on a $150,000 house in Juneau will be $1,179, which is an increase of $30.

Mess Sentenced In OWI Homicide

11/25/10 - A Lake Mills teen who killed her best friend in a drunk driving accident was sentenced this week to five years in prison. As part of a plea agreement, 19-year-old Michelle Mess will also serve five years of extended supervision. Mess was driving when she failed to negotiate a curve in the town of Watertown in the early morning hours of July 16. The car left the road and rolled over, ejecting 19-year-old Ashley Johnson, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Mess pleaded “no contest” to a charge of Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Motor Vehicle and two charges of Obstruction. Six other Obstruction charges were dismissed but read into the record.

Woman Accused of Leaving Bloody Accident Scene

11/25/10 - An Iron Ridge woman faces felony Hit and Run charges after allegedly leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in severe injuries to her passenger. Kim Natalie Sheehan reportedly told investigators that she was the designated driver so she only had a couple cans of beer before putting her car in a ditch in the Town of Hustisford this past June. Both she and her passenger were unable to provide any details of the accident. The 44-year-old says she has no idea how she wound up at home. Sheehan faces up to 15 years in prison, if convicted. She had a signature bond set at $5000 earlier this month and failed to show for a court appearance yesterday (Wed) morning.

Officer Suspended For Excessive Force

11/25/10 - A 10-year veteran of the Fond du Lac Police Department will serve a three day unpaid suspension after an excessive force investigation. Officer Joel Gudex will also be required to take remedial training. Gudex slammed 49-year-old John Lund down on a table at the Fond du Lac County Jail causing a cut to Lund’s head that had to be treated at St. Agnes Hospital. Chief Tony Barthuly determined Gudex’s tactics weren’t appropriate given the situation. Barthuly says he understands that Lund was giving officers problems during and after the arrest, but that doesn’t excuse the behavior. The investigation was overseen by Deputy Chief Kevin Lemke and conducted by Steve Theory, but outside experts were also consulted. Barthuly said ultimately the decision was up to him whether discipline was required. Criminal charges are pending against Lund.

Woman Charged In Axe-Wielding Fight

11/25/10 - A Fond du Lac woman has been arrested for allegedly using an ax to bust into a room to continue a fight with her husband. Police say the fight was going on for most of the night and, at one point, the man and his children locked themselves in a bedroom. Fond du Lac Deputy Police Chief Kevin Lemke said the man tried to go to bed – but the drunken woman allegedly grabbed the ax and started chopping at the door. Lemke said the 36-year-old woman didn’t threaten to hurt anyone. She faces possible charges of domestic abuse and criminal damage.

Garbage Pick-Up Delayed

11/25/10 - Waste collection in Beaver Dam will be delayed by one day because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says Veolia Environmental will suspend garbage pick-ups for Thursday. Residents who normally receive pick-up Thursday will instead have garbage collection Friday, while Friday’s route will be collected on Saturday. Stoiser says the Public Works Garage will also be closed until Monday.

Lawsuit Filed Against Texas Organic Milk Dairy

11/25/10 - The Wisconsin-based Cornucopia Institute has filed a legal complaint with the USDA against a Texas mega dairy for marketing organic milk produced by conventional cows. The complaint charges the Natural Prairie Dairy in Dalhart, Texas with replacing cows that can no longer be milked with heifers bought from dairies that don't use organic practices. Cornucopia Institute co-director Mark Kastel says federal officials should do a better job of enforcing rules that require organic dairies to only use cows that have been under organic management from the last third of their gestation before birth. He says true organic farmers don't buy replacement heifers because they produce their own.

Appeals Court Rules Against Milwaukee Archdiocese

11/25/10 - A Wisconsin Appeals Court says the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese can't use insurance money to pay off clergy abuse victims. The ruling comes as the church is in mediation with about a dozen people who have filed lawsuits over past alleged abuse. The Appeals Court has upheld circuit court rulings that said the Archdiocese's insurance policy covers accidents. The Appellate court says any misrepresentations made by the church or priests in abuse cases were intentional. Peter Isely, Midwest director of the victims group SNAP, says about a dozen abuse victims who are in mediation started by Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki have just had their cases strengthened. He says he hopes Archbishop Listecki becomes more interested in settling the cases, if it's clear insurance money won't bailout the church. But the Milwaukee Archdiocese says it's likely to ask the state Supreme Court to review the appellate court ruling. Archdiocese spokeswoman Julie Wolf says the hope was that insurance money could help the victims and church move forward.

Nature Conservancy Buys Island

11/25/10 - The Nature Conservancy has bought an island that provides key habitat adjacent to Lake Superior. The landmark Clough Island is located at the heart of the St. Louis River Estuary near Superior. Deputy Director Rebecca Smith says the group has been working on it for 10 years. The 358 acre island, which was once proposed for development, is a key habitat for various species of birds. “There’s 230 species that have been documented using the St. Louis estuary, and 115 are known to breed there,” Smith said. And fish, as well. Smith said the waters and wetlands around the island provide ideal habitat for numerous species of game fish, including lake sturgeon. Purchase price forClough Island was 1-point-4 million dollars. A million dollar grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will help pay for conservation and restoration efforts on the island.

Farm Bureau on Thanksgiving

11/25/10 - The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s annual price survey of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner shows the meal is not only affordable, but the group’s spokesman Casey Langan says much of that food is produced right here in the Badger State. Langan reminds us Wisconsin farmers produce more than just the dairy portion of the menu. He says Wisconsin produces turkeys, but it also grows potatoes and cranberries. Among the things to be thankful for this year, Langan says, is that American consumers enjoy relatively stable food costs. He points out that Americans spend just 10 percent of their annual disposable income on food, the lowest percentage in the world.

E-Waste Law Effectiveness Applauded

11/25/10 - There are early indications that Wisconsin’s ban on sending electronic waste to landfills is working. The law that took effect in September requires consumers and manufacturers to recycle old electronic devices, rather than just throwing them away. Thad Nation with Wired Wisconsin says the group has been tracking numbers at recycling centers statewide since the ban started, and so far there has been a “sharp uptick” in several areas for electronic waste coming in. For example, Nation says a hazardous materials center in Brown County has reported almost 50,000 pounds a month in electronic waste being recycled since September. That’s up from just 15,000 before the ban started. Nation says numbers like that show how badly the ban was needed because those items were just being thrown away before. Recycling products, such as old computers and TVs, means dangerous heavy metals and chemicals are no longer ending up in landfills. Those materials are often being recaptured and used to make new products, which Nation says is a very important step forward for the state.

Top Stories November 24th

Kennedy: ‘Welcome Back Downtown’


11/24/10 - “Welcome back downtown.” That’s what Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy said yesterday before the ribbon was cut on a major downtown housing development. Madison Place is a 62-unit, three-story independent senior living center at the site of the former Thomas Chevrolet lot. Kennedy told the group of developers, Chamber members and city officials that Madison Place “truly enhances downtown revitalization efforts.” Developer Tom Sather says the $7.1 million dollar project has created jobs, eliminated blight, and continued downtown revitalization all while providing much-needed, affordable housing for seniors.

Beaver Dam Student Named Kick-Off Kid

11/24/10 - A Beaver Dam fifth grader has been selected to be the final Kickoff Kid for the 2010 Badger football season. One Wisconsin public school student is selected for the honor of retrieving the tee after the opening kickoff at each of the Badgers home games. Easton Meier was nominated for the honor by second grade teacher Judy Hein who says Meier leads by example, is a hard worker and very motivated in academics and in life. Meier will also get a t-shirt, tickets for his family, his picture on the jumbo-tron and also get to spend some time on the field during warm-ups. Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy will be among those attending a rally Wednesday afternoon at Lincoln Elementary to show their support for Meier in advance of Saturday’s Badgers game against Northwestern.

Officers Of The Year From BDPD

11/24/10 - Those who helped rescue a woman after she crashed her SUV through a bridge and laded upside down in the Beaver Dam River will be honored by the Dodge County Executive Law Enforcement Association. Sergeant Eric Feucht, along with Officers Andy Strachota, Jake Vosters, and Nathan Keener have been named the Law Enforcement Officers of the Year. And Victoria Fueger, Michael Fueger, Patrick Haack, Jason Moser, and Miles Mueller will be honored as Citizens of the Year for their help in rescuing the woman. Also being honored as a Citizen of the Year will be Robert Dewitt for helping a Watertown police officer arrest two violent and intoxicated men. Other award winners include Sergeant Cheri Rabehl as Correctional Officer of the Year, Harold “Buzz” Vanderhei as Support Person of the Year, and Joceyln Gasner as Youth of the Year. The 2010 Presidents Award will be given to members of the Dodge County Explorers Program, and former Beaver Dam Police Chief Dale Boldt, who left the department earlier this year, will receive the Retirement Award. The award recipients will be honored at the Association’s annual banquet in January.

McBride Sentenced For Child Porn Possession

11/24/10 - A Beaver Dam man was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for possessing child pornography. Jack McBride pleaded “no contest” in September to one felony count and had three other counts dismissed, According to the criminal complaint, the 24-year-old used a roommates computer to download and save 14 images of children, some as young as five-years-old. McBride admitted to investigators that he received the pictures but says he was shocked by them as they were not the images he was trying to get. Authorities say he obtained the photos from a file sharing website and told the person who sent them that they were “nice.” McBride was also sentenced to seven years of extended supervision, ordered to pay a $500 surcharge for each of the 14 pictures and must spend the rest of his life on the sex offender registry.

18 Months For Drunken Chase

11/24/10 - A Beaver Dam man will spend 18 months in prison for leading authorities on a drunken high speed chase. Bradley Marquardt pleaded “guilty” a felony count of Sixth Offense Operating While Intoxicated and had two other felonies and a half-dozen traffic offenses dismissed but read into the record. According to the criminal complaint, the 29-year-old was involved in a 20-mile chase in May that reached speeds in excess of 100-miles-per hour. The pursuit spanned nearly a half hour and ended when Beaver Dam police deployed stop spikes on Highway 151 near Jackson Road. Marquardt was also sentenced to three years of extended supervision, had his license revoked for three years followed by three years with an ignition interlock device on his vehicle.

Markesan Man Gets Probation for Fleeing

11/24/10 - Two years probation for a Markesan man charged in Dodge County with running from police. Sheriffs deputies on patrol in Fox Lake attempted to pull over a vehicle 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 had both a witness and video footage showing Wills exit the vehicle after the accident. He also had his license suspended for six months and must maintain absolute sobriety. Wills still faces charges in Green Lake County court on felony Fleeing charges from earlier that evening. Court activity is on the calendar next week.

Dells Victim Long-Term Prognosis Uncertain

11/24/10 - Her mother says 13-year-old Teagan Marti might have been overwhelmed by all the reporters, T-V cameras, and spotlights at her home this week. And maybe that’s why she didn’t say a word about the 100-foot fall she suffered from a Wisconsin Dells amusement ride in late July. The Martis, of Parkland Florida, held a news conference to talk about Teagan’s recovery – and to thank people for the support they’ve received. Teagan moved her legs in her wheelchair and played around with her cell phone while her parents did the talking. But she only spent about five minutes in front of the reporters before going back to her room. Julie Marti said her daughter has had daily therapy sessions. She called Teagan a fighter, and her progress in the last four months has been amazing. But the girl’s long-term prognosis is still uncertain after she had numerous fractures. Julie Marti said her family would have a wonderful Thanksgiving. In her words, “What more do I have to be thankful for?”

Suspicious Man Just Photographing Trains

11/24/10 - It turns out, the guy liked trains. A suspicious man was spotted Sunday night taking pictures near a chemical storage facility at the Quad Graphics plant in Lomira. When the man was confronted he reportedly got in his car and took off, prompting calls to local authorities. Sheriff Todd Nehls says they located the subject and it turns out he is a train enthusiast and was photographing a nearby train. Nehls says he posed no threat, committed no crime and has cooperated fully with authorities.