Top Stories, December 29th

Air Quality Watch In Effect

12/29/10 - The state D-N-R has put 26 counties under an Air Quality Watch until seven tomorrow morning. The southeast third of the state is included – including Dodge, Columbia, Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Jefferson and Washington counties. Officials say particle pollution could reach harmful levels for the very young, the very old, and those with heart-and-lung diseases. Warm-and-heavier air is being pumped into Wisconsin from the south today – and the D-N-R says it will prevent fine particles from flowing like they normally do. Those particles come from things like power plants and vehicles. Officials encourage people with breathing problems to avoid outdoor activities today and tonight.

Municipal Non-Candidacy Filings

12/29/10 - All three incumbent candidates on the Mayville Common Council are not seeking another term. Al Voss and E. Jay Gering have filed non-candidacy papers and Scott Mastalish tells us he will not be seeking a second term prior to this weeks deadline. In Horicon, Third District Alderman Nathan Anfinson filed his non-candidacy papers. In Columbus, Alderman Bill Bruns is giving up his Third District seat. In Waupun, District One Alderman Dale Schmidt said last week that he would not run, and two other candidates are now circulating papers. In Watertown, there will be three incumbents who are not returning; two because of term limits. District 9 Alderman Brad Blanke is eligible to run under city ordinance but will not be returning. All incumbent candidates in Beaver Dam and Fox Lake will be seeking re-election. In Beaver Dam, alderpersons in odd numbered wards are running and that includes Donna Fuhrman, Glen Link, Robert Ballweg, Lisa Davidson, Jon Litscher and Laine Meyer. Fifth Ward Alderman Aaron Onsrud is the only candidate that is currently facing opposition. Former Alderman Mick Fischer has submitted all his nomination papers. The election will be held April 5.

Watertown Man IDed In Jail Suicide

12/29/10 - A Jefferson County Jail inmate who took his own life on the night after Christmas has been identified as 30-year-old Clint Tourbier of Watertown. Officials said he was found unresponsive on Sunday night. He was not on any special type of watch. A medical examiner said Tourbier died from asphyxia caused by hanging. He was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, after being arrested last Wednesday on possible counts of third-degree sexual assault, misdemeanor battery, and bail jumping.

Mueller Gets Life In Redmer Murder

12/29/10 - A Brookfield man who strangled-and-burned his girlfriend, and dumped her ashes in Lake Winnebago, will spend the rest of his life in prison. 37-year-old Brandon Mueller was given no chance for a future release when he was sentenced yesterday by Fond du Lac County Circuit Judge Robert Wirtz. The girlfriend, 28-year-old Renee Redmer of Waukesha, disappeared almost two years ago. No one knew where she was until Mueller admitted to a friend that he strangled her at his mother’s home in Fond du Lac. The mother, Nancy Pinno – and the friend, Donald Worth – both helped Mueller burn the body in a barrel and dumped the remains in Lake Winnebago. Worth eventually told police what happened. Pinno got eight years in prison for her role, and Worth six years. The murder resulted from a fight between Mueller and his girlfriend, after he flushed her heroin down a toilet. Before the slaying, he was convicted of assaulting women in four other cases.

Fondy Man Charged In Infant Death

12/29/10 - A Fond du Lac man is due back in court next week on charges that he caused head injuries which killed his girlfriend’s 18-month-old daughter. According to prosecutors, 22-year-old Tyler Jackson first claimed that young Chloe Gessner fell down six stairs – and he found her coughing on the floor with a bloody mouth and nose. But Doctor Alice Swanson of Milwaukee Children’s Hospital said the girl had one of the worst cases of brain damage she had ever seen – and falling down six stairs would not have been nearly enough to cause it. Jackson later told officers he was swinging the girl by her feet, so she would land while sitting on a love-seat – and her head apparently hit a padded portion of the furniture too hard. He said he was doing the quote, “airplane thing” – and his girlfriend warned him before about playing too rough with the child. In his court appearance next Thursday, a judge is expected to decide if there’s enough evidence to order a trial.

Campbellsport Man Charged In Firearms Incident

12/29/10 - A signature bond was set yesterday when a 51-year-old Campbellsport man was charged for shooting off a rifle and handgun in the parking lot of the apartment building where he lives. Leo Alonge was charged with a misdemeanor count of discharging a firearm within 100 yards of a building. No one was hurt during the incident late last Saturday morning. He allegedly shot seven rounds from the rifle and one from a handgun. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for January 12 and a plea and sentencing hearing for February 1.

Teen Charged In Parks & Rec Break-In

12/29/10 - A teen accused of breaking into the Beaver Dam Parks and Recreation building on Christmas Eve had cash bond set at $1000 during an Initial Appearance yesterday. Donny J. Lafferty is charged with felony burglary and trespass. Authorities say they responded to a silent alarm at the city-owned building on West South Street just after 4am and allegedly found the 18-year-old inside and he was taken into custody. Lafferty told authorities that he was bored and jumped over the fence behind his residence. He said he had only been in the unlocked building for five minutes and did not plan on stealing anything. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 13.

Winter Parking Rules Unchanged in Horicon

12/29/10 - Winter parking rules will be staying the same in Horicon, for now anyway. City officials have been discussing the possibility of repealing the current ordinance in committee for the last year. For the past two seasons, Horicon residents have been prohibited from parking on any city streets between 2am and 6am from the beginning of December until the end of March. Resident Randy Benway gathered over 80 signatures from residents who say it’s unfair to ticket residents if the snow plows are not operating. The proposed ordinance would only prohibit parking after an inch or more of snow falls and only until the roadway is cleared. It is similar to the old and now defunct ordinance that outlawed parking for 24-hours after a major snow event. Alderman Steve Neitzel says the proposed ordinance is the worst of all three. Neitzel says people refused to follow the rules before and the current ordinance is simpler to understand. After a lengthy discussion last night on the council floor, the proposed winter parking ordinance was tabled indefinitely, much to the disappointment of Mayor James Grigg. He and Public Works Chair John Flouro say they’d like to see it come back again for a vote before next winter. Horicon residents who have overnight guests who require on-street parking in the winter are encouraged to contact the police department to make temporary arrangements and avoid a $40 ticket.

Frozen Road Law In Effect

12/29/10 - Trucks that carry forest products, road salt, and sand can carry heavier loads in southeast Wisconsin starting Wednesday. The annual “Frozen Road Law” took effect in the rest of the state on December 17th, and it began in the southeast at 12:01 a-m this morning. Heavier weight limits apply to forest-and-winter maintenance trucks on all state-and-federal highways except the Interstates. But it does include I-39 from Portage to Wausau. The Frozen Road Law stays in effect until early March, unless thawing justifies an earlier ending.

New BD Chief Eager To Begin Work

12/29/10 - The city of Beaver Dam’s new police chief will be settling into the area after the New Year. Ronald Smith with the Norwalk, Connecticut Police Department was selected by the Police and Fire Commission this month over three other finalists. Smith told city officials during the most recent common council meeting that he is was an honor to be selected for the position and he looking forward to the opportunity to serve the people of Beaver Dam. He says he has already had an opportunity to tour the department and meet with officers and staff. Smith says he is impressed with the number of multiple tasks that each officer performs. Smith will begin his job in mid-January.

St. Anna Memorial Tonight Honors Koeser

12/29/10 - Firefighters will gather in St. Anna in Calumet County tonight to dedicate a memorial to Steven “Peanut” Koeser who died when a dumpster exploded while he and others were fighting a fire at Bremer Manufacturing a year ago today. Eight others were injured during that incident. Badger Firefighters Association President Ron Naab says the tragedy could have torn the small fire department apart, but St. Anna firefighters weathered that storm and have actually added five new members over the past year. The ceremony at the St. Anna Fire Department will begin at 7pm.