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.