Top Stories, December 6th

Beaver Dam Enjoys Festive Weekend

12/6/10 - The holiday season officially kicked-off in Beaver Dam this weekend with a variety of activities throughout downtown. The Beaver Dam Area Community Theater had three performances of their “Jazzy Christmas” this weekend, beginning Friday night. The doors to the Dodge County Historical Society opened early Saturday afternoon and there was an increasingly steady influx of foot traffic during their six-hour open house. Those who visited the 120-year-old museum once known as the Williams Free Library were able to enjoy holiday refreshments and take in historic exhibits while children decorated an ornament for the museum’s Christmas tree. Spectators were also able to get hot cocoa and cookies down the street at the Chamber of Commerce offices. The evening’s festivities kicked off there with the lighting of the Spruce on Spring by Mayor Tom Kennedy. Hundreds upon hundreds of spectators lined the streets for the Beaver Dam Holiday Parade, which got underway not long after the tree-lighting and included around 40 entries.

There was a packed house at the high school Sunday afternoon for the Second Annual Red Kettle Concert, where choirs from three area churches came together with middle and high school students to raise money for the Salvation Army. This year’s numbers aren’t in quite yet but last year the event raised over $2200 with 86% of the money staying in Dodge County. Among the activities taking place next weekend: the Beaver Dam Area Orchestra will have their annual Christmas concert at the high school on Saturday and Santa Claus will make his regular stop at the Heffron White House on Sunday.

BDCH Tree of Lights Tonight

12/6/10 - The Partners of the Beaver Dam Community Hospital is holding their 21st Annual Tree of Lights Celebration Monday. The event is a fundraiser for the hospital’s hospice program and features special seasonal choral music, remarks from hospice families, caregivers and staff and the lighting of the tree. The program is held in the Beaver Dam Community Hospital conference room beginning at 7pm.

SKDS Staying Inside City Limits

12/6/10 - St. Katherine Drexel will be staying inside Beaver Dam’s city limits. Fr. Mike Erwin on Sunday announced the results of an election held last month among parishioners. He says 69% of the 950 votes cast were in favor of purchasing the furniture store and surrounding land at the corner of South Spring and Mill streets for office space while renovating the church and school on Spring Street at a cost of roughly $4 million. Under the plan, the entire campus would consolidate into the one location. The other plan involved building a new church and school complex at the intersection of County Highway B and Crystal Lake Road at a cost of $15 million. Fr. Erwin says the vote is binding and the church council will immediately begin moving forward with this plan. Over the decades the catholic churches in Beaver Dam have consolidated from three separate locations with different names into St. Katherine Drexel. Fr. Erwin says there is already a feeling of unity surrounding this vote. Parish Council Chair Judy Johnson applauded the high voter turnout saying “they will begin the process of moving forward knowing people’s voices have been heard.”

Snowmobile Fatality in Washington County

12/6/10 - Washington County investigators say an adult driver lost control of a snowmobile Saturday, causing an accident that killed a seven year old boy. The victim was riding with the adult in a neighbor’s backyard when the snowmobile flipped over. Both were injured, with the adult's injuries considered to be non life-threatening. Crash investigators say speed likely was a factor and neither person was wearing a helmet when the accident happened in the town of Polk.

Kennedy Holds Listening Sessions

12/6/10 - Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy has listening sessions scheduled for Tuesday. Kennedy says city residents are invited to meet with him, one-on-one, without appointment on the first and third Tuesday of every month. He says it is important that constituents have the opportunity to speak with him the day after each regular meeting of the common council. The meetings are held in Room 109 on the first floor of City Hall from 10am until noon and again from 5pm to 6pm. Kennedy also makes himself available for private meetings by appointment by contacting the mayor office.