Top Stories, February 1st

BDACT Kicks-Off $2.5 Million Fundraising Campaign

2/1/11 - The Beaver Dam Area Community Theater kicks-off their fundraising campaign today for a major, $2.5 million renovation project. Fundraising Committee Co-Chair Jim Flynn says the board has looked at several different alternatives over the years – some costing as much as five to six million dollars – but there is consensus that renovating the existing building is the best option, especially given the buildings history, location and “wonderful acoustics.” The theater is planning to add 10,000 square feet, two smaller theater stages and increased seating in the main theater. The new designs also call for the addition of an orchestra pit, an expanded backstage area and dressing rooms. Plus there would be ground-level access on the north side of the building and an elevator to allow for handicap access. Fundraising is anticipated over the next two to three years with the goal of having renovations complete by their golden anniversary in 2014.The public got its first look at preliminary designs from the theaters architect at their annual meeting last night.

Waupun Teen Charged With Assault

2/1/11 - A Waupun teen is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. 17-year-old Alezander A. Ramirez reportedly told investigators he was 16-years-old when the one and only assault occurred but the victim says otherwise. She says Ramirez was 17 at the time, there were two assaults and she did not fight it because he tried to choke her once before. Ramirez faces up to 80 years in prison if convicted on the two felony charges. He had a signature bond set at $5000 yesterday and will be back in court for a preliminary hearing next month.

Steve Fitzgerald Seeks State Patrol Position

2/1/11 - The father of two Wisconsin legislative leaders wants Governor Scott Walker to name him as the State Patrol Superintendent. Steve Fitzgerald tells the Associated Press he sees no conflict in applying for the job, because he has a long law enforcement career that’s totally separate from his sons’ political careers. Steve is the father of Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (of Juneau) and G-O-P Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (of Horicon). Steve Fitzgerald was the sheriff in Dodge County for 14 years before he became a U-S Marshal. Former President George W. Bush appointed him to that post in 2002, and his term expired in 2010. He ran again for sheriff last fall, and lost in a primary.

Jeff, Scott Fitzgerald Top Per-Diem List

2/1/11 - Wisconsin Senate Republican leader Scott Fitzgerald collected more in expense money last year than any other legislator for the time he spent in Madison. The Republican from Juneau was given over 16-thousand-500 dollars in per-diem reimbursements. Assembly Democrat Marlin Schneider of Wisconsin Rapids got the next-highest amount at almost 13-thousand-500. Assembly G-O-P leader Jeff Fitzgerald of Horicon got the third-highest reimbursement at just over 13-thousand dollars. Milwaukee Assembly Democrat Leon Young was fourth at just under 13-thousand. Both Fitzgeralds were minority leaders in their respective houses before they became the top lawmakers as Republicans took control of both chambers. Schneider, who lost his re-election bid last November, was among the leaders for years in per-diem reimbursements. And he never apologized for it, saying it was proof that he was doing his job. And Schneider said party leaders had more work, so it was natural that they’re reimbursed more. Lawmakers outside Dane County receive 88-dollars a day for meals and housing expenses while in Madison. Dane County legislators get 44-dollars for each day they’re at the Capitol.

Walker Signs Two More Tax Break Bills

2/1/11 - Governor Scott Walker signed a bill Monday that eliminates state income taxes for two years for companies that relocate to Wisconsin. And Walker signed another bill that adds 25-million dollars in various tax credits to an existing economic development program. Walker says that Wisconsin is aggressively moving to put people back to work – and it’s probably more active than any other state in doing so. But Democrats say Walker is driving up the state’s budget deficit more than anything else. The bills in Walker’s special session on the economy would jack up the deficit in the next state budget by about 142-million dollars.

Oshkosh Corp Adding Jobs

2/1/11 - Oshkosh Corporation could start hiring assemblers, welders and other skilled trade positions as early as next month. The specialty vehicle maker says it plans to add up to 750 jobs at its plant. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have meant a booming business. Oshkosh just won a three billion dollar contract with the U.S. Army to build more than 23 thousand trucks over the next two years. It's getting ready to roll 40 of the vehicles off the line every day. The first of the vehicles was delivered this month to the Wisconsin National Guard. Oshkosh Corporation currently has about 27 hundred workers on the job.

Top Stories, January 31st

Big Winter Storm Coming

1/31/11 - Wisconsin is about to get hit with a double-dose of snow. Two-to-eight-inches are in the forecast statewide for today. And then far southern Wisconsin could get another 12-to-18 inches tomorrow and Wednesday. We’re expecting between 8 and 16-inches over the two-day period. The National Weather Service says the snow is moving from the Rockies through much of the Plains and the Midwest before heading to the East Coast. The Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for most of southern Wisconsin through tomorrow afternoon. And a blizzard watch is in effect for the far southeast through Wednesday afternoon, including Jefferson and Waukesha Counties. Forecasters say the winds in that area could get up to 60-miles-an-hour – and snow drifts of up to 10-feet are possible in some places. Once the snow leaves, bitter cold temperatures are supposed to move in.

West Bend Man Injured in Accident

1/31/11 - Washington County Sheriff’s officials say at 31-year-old West Bend man had to be flown to Froedtert Hospital late last night after his car went off a curve and hit a guardrail. Shawn Daley was thrown out of the front passenger’s door after the impact from the crash tore the door off. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Speed and alcohol were factors in the crash. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)

Authorities Raid Alleged Drug House

1/31/11 - A 26-year-old Fall River man was arrested Friday following a multi-agency drug investigation. Lieutenant Dennis Weiner with the Columbus Police Department says while executing a search warrant at the residence of Brandon Patrick officers found marijuana, cash, numerous marijuana pipes, three electronic scales used for weighing drugs and packaging materials. Weiner says Patrick was jailed on a variety of charges including Maintaining a Drug House, Possession of Marijuana 2nd offense, both of which are felonies. He also faces charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Bail jumping. The drug related charges carry enhancer penalties because Patrick lives within 1000-feet of a school. Authorities say additional charges are possible. The case was investigated by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department, along with the Columbus and Fall River Police Departments.

Columbus Woman Charged with Forgery

1/31/11 - A Columbus woman has been charged with 12 counts of forgery in Columbia County. That’s according to a press release from the Columbus Police Department which says 48-year-old Tina Chahine was arrested and jailed last Thursday. Authorities say they were contacted about numerous bounced checks being passed at several local businesses and a bank. Their investigation revealed that since mid-November, 13-checks were allegedly written by Chahine on the closed account of her mother, who had passed away seven-months ago. The forgery counts are all felonies.

1/31/11 - The Beaver Dam School District is hosting a program tonight (Mon) on talking to children about health choices. The speaker is Mike McGowan, President of McGowan and Associates, a training and consultation firm specializing in alcohol and drug abuse, conflict resolution and family issues. He works with schools, parent groups, and students as a trainer, consultant and motivational speaker. McGowan’s presentation for parents tonight will focus on ways to talk to kids about violence, drugs and academic success and also how to help kids cope with transitions. The presentation is from 5:45pm to 7:15pm and will be at the Mayville Engineering Company on Corporate Drive in Beaver Dam, that’s right next door to the YMCA of Dodge County. In fact, the YMCA is letting parents and their kids use the pool for free during the presentation, whether their members of the Y or not. Parents do have to pre-register by calling Marilyn Henrich at the Beaver Dam School District or by calling the YMCA. Children under the age of seven must be accompanied by an adult.

BDACT To Unveil Renovation Designs At Meeting Tonight

1/31/11 - The public can get a first look at reconstruction plans for the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater at their Annual Meeting tonight (Monday). The theater is planning a $2.5 million dollar renovation of their building on North Spring Street. MSA architect Martin Sell will present a series of graphics demonstrating the major changes, which includes an elevator, a new lobby, a reconstructed stage, and additional production space. It’s also an opportunity for the community to hear about the theaters annual finances and shows for the upcoming year. The general public is welcome to attend the meeting, which begins at 7pm in the theater.

Property Taxes Due Today

1/31/11 - Property taxes are due today (Monday) at your local municipal treasurer’s office. Taxpayers mailing after today’s deadline are subject to interest and a penalty of one and a half percent (1.5%) of the total amount for the first month, and that increases by 1.5% percent for every month the tax remains unpaid. Also, if you are late the entire tax bill is due immediately. The second installment payments are due at the county treasurer’s office by July 31. Watertown is the only Dodge County community that allows property taxes to be paid in three installments but all three payments have to be made in the city.

Top Stories, January 30th

BDCASD Cabin Fever Fest Today

1/30/11 - If the winter doldrums have got you down, officials in Beaver Dam say they have the cure for you. The city is hosting its second annual Cabin Fever Fest at Crystal Lake Park on Sunday. Administrator Evonne Koeppen says the event will feature a wide variety of activities for people of all ages. The Dodge County Antique Power Club will be providing wagon rides while local Boy Scout Troop #724 will be cooking stew on the outdoor Dutch oven. There will be a poetry contest and a chili contest, ice skating demonstrations and snow painting. The sled hill is open and so is the disc golf course. Music will be provided by Jeff Hall DJ Service. The Med-Flight helicopter will be on display and at 3pm there will be a Snow Ball drop with the winner receiving cold hard cash. Cabin Fever Fest will be held from 1pm to 4pm at Crystal Lake Park. http://www.beaverdamchamber.com/cabinfeverfest/

Petri in Dodge County Area Monday

1/30/11 - Congressman Tom Petri will be in the Dodge County area Monday as part of a series of Town Meetings. The Republican from Fond du Lac will be at the Watertown Senior and Community Center from 1:30pm to 2:30pm. He will then spend an hour at the Dodge County Administration Building beginning at 3:30pm.

Johnson Delivers Republican Radio Address

1/30/11 - U.S. Senator Ron Johnson says big government is blocking the creation of jobs, not helping it. Johnson delivered the Republican radio address Saturday. He called on the president to offer a "serious" plan for federal spending cuts. Johnson introduced himself as a first-time political candidate who thought it was time for citizen legislators to come to Washington and do something about what he calls the bankrupting of America. Johnson criticized the over-regulation of business and an over-complicated t5ax code. He says when Congress is asked to raise the debt ceiling in a few months, real reductions in spending has to be part of the solution to the nation's money problems. At that time, Johnson says talk and rhetoric will need to be turned into action and tangible results.

Senate Confirms Jadin For Commerce Department

1/30/11 - The Wisconsin Senate has confirmed Paul Jadin, Governor Scott Walker’s pick to head the state Commerce Department. The vote to confirm the former Green Bay mayor was unanimous. “Today I will support Paul. I haven’t always agreed with him and I’m sure I’ll disagree with him in the future, but he is qualified to hold this position,” said Green Bay Democrat, state Senator Dave Hansen. Jadin, who most recently headed the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, was tapped by Governor Walker to oversee the transformation of the state Commerce Department into a public/private Economic Development Corporation.

Machine Operator Impaled In Manitowoc

1/30/11 - An industrial accident leaves a worker in Manitowoc impaled on a metal rod. The accident happened at Parker Hannifan Corporation Friday. Emergency responders found the man impaled on the metal rod that entered his torso from one side and exited on the other. The rod was described as being 10 feet long and a little more than a half-inch in diameter. The man was alert and conscious as he was being treated and taken to a local hospital. He was reportedly a machine operator who suffered the injury during a routine procedure. The victim's name has not been released.

Saukville Police Officer Cleared Of Arson

1/30/11 - A former Saukville police officer won't have to face arson charges. The judge in Port Washington ruled there wasn't enough evidence to allow prosecutors to make their arguments before a jury. Prosecutors wanted to tell the jury she set the fire to help her firefighter boyfriend work through some anxieties. The defense wanted to argue firefighters burned the vacant building down for practice. The judge rejected both and the Ozaukee County jury found Melissa Kronebusch not guilty. Surveillance video showed her at the home about 20 minutes before the fire started. The criminal report says she left, then returned a few minutes later. That's when the 28 year old officer reported the fire.

Teen Jailed For Shooting At Vandals

1/30/11 - A teenager in Racine County will spend 30 days in jail for shooting his rifle at a pickup full of vandals. Vincent Albano of Raymond has apologized and says he will learn from hi smistake. He was originally charged with five felonies, but he pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors as a part of a plea agreement. Albano told police he was hunting raccoons when a group of people driving by smashed his mailbox. He fired at the truck and a bullet went through a headrest inside the vehicle. The prosecutor says everyone is lucky that no one was hit. The mother of two people riding in the truck called him a stupid teenager.

Psych Exam Ordered In Cyber Bullying Incident

1/30/11 - A 15 year old high school student in Altoona can return to class if she agrees to a comprehensive psychological exam. She was expelled for cyber-bullying. School district officials say she posted derogatory comments about another student on Facebook. If some doesn't participate in the psychological testing, the student will remain out of class for the rest of the school year.

Kimberly Officials Find Time Capsule

1/30/11 - Officials at the Village of Kimberly have finally figured out what happened to their time capsule. The time capsule was buried in 1985, but it had to be dug up 12 years later when the area was remodeled. Officials wanted to open it last year, but nobody could remember where it had been put. Finally, an office worker found the answer. An envelope labeled the "remains of 1985 Time Capsule" was found in a cabinet. The envelope contained a picture of President Ronald Reagan and letters from local politicians. Those items will be added to a new time capsule, but this one will be displayed and not buried.

Final Carp Barrier In Place

1/30/11 - The third and final electrical barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is about to go online a year ahead of schedule. Final tests should be finished in the next month in this effort to stop the spread of big and heavy flying fish. The last electrical link in the battle to keep the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes is getting its final operational test this week. The Army Corp of Engineers is overseeing the building and operation of three electrical barriers designed to shock and stun fish swimming toward Lake Michigan in the Chicago waterway.

Dodge County Land Conservation Extends Tree Deadline

1/30/11 - The deadline has been extended for those seeking to order trees as part of the annual Small Packet Tree sales program in Dodge County. The Land Conservation Department is offering a wide variety of species of trees for sale, including red and white Oak, White Cedar and Norway Spruce. The only trees that have sold out are Frasier Fir and Tamarack. The trees are sold in bundles of 25 for $23 per bundle. The deadline has been extended to February 8. For more information or to get an order form, contact the Dodge County Land Conservation Department at 386-3660 or visit the county website. www.co.dodge.wi.us

Top Stories January 29th

Dodge County Gets Housing Grant


1/29/11 - Dodge County will be splitting $8.8 million dollars in grant money to help low income residents with their housing needs. That was the word from Governor Scott Walker this week when he announced the county would get $548,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. The funds are to be used to rehabilitate and expand the supply of safe and sanitary housing for low to moderate incoming households. The loans are available to homeowners, tenants looking to purchase a home and landlords renting to low to moderate income tenants. There are given out on a first come, first served basis and can be used to, among other things, replace windows and doors, replace or repair furnaces and upgrade plumbing or electrical systems. The loans are issued at 0% interest and must be paid back when the home is sold or the applicant no longer lives there.

Mendez Sentenced in Fraud Scheme

1/29/11 - A former tax preparer from Sun Prairie has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in a federal prison for her role in mortgage fraud scheme. 45-year-old Gail Mendez was among five people sentenced in the scam, which netted eight-million-dollars in false home loans in 2006-and-’07 under a program at Park Bank. Officials said the bank ended up losing almost a half-million dollars, and the I-R-S was shorted by 925-thousand dollars. Authorities said the five people took advantage of a program that allowed borrowers to apply for mortgages using Taxpayer Identification Numbers instead of Social Security numbers. It required two years of tax returns to prove the applicants’ incomes. Prosecutors said Mendez prepared fraudulent tax forms for the loans – and she tried to destroy the evidence once authorities discovered the scheme. Park Bank loan officer Amy Strait received three months in prison. Real estate agent Carlos Solis got a year-and-a-half. And Mendez’s son Marty and one of her employees, David Knickmeyer, were each sentenced to a year behind bars.

Moldy Potatoes Blamed for Death of 200 Steers

1/29/11 - Tainted potatoes are what killed 200 steers earlier this month on a farm near Stevens Point. The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at U-W Madison announced the cause today. Associate director Peter Vanderloo said the animals tested positive for a toxin found in moldy sweet potatoes. And the bad potatoes were apparently mixed with potato waste before being fed to the steers. The cows died January 14th at J-and-M Farms in the Portage County town of Stockton, east of Stevens Point. Early indications were that the animals died from a bovine virus or pneumonia. But Vanderloo said there was no evidence in that regard. He says it’s common to give animals food that cannot be eaten by humans – and there continues to be no risk to human health. Farm owner Jerry Krupka recently put the loss at 300-thousand dollars, and he said insurance would not cover it.

Crackdown on Pornography on Work Computers

1/29/11 - A state lawmaker says he wants to make it easier to punish school teachers and officials who look at pornography on their work computers. Assembly Education Committee chairman Steve Kestell says a patchwork of laws over the years creates incentives to hide that kind of information from future employers. Former Beaver Dam and Randolph Administrator Christopher Nelson is charged in Milwaukee with trying to arrange sex with a 15-year-old boy on-line, while serving as Superintendent of the New Holstein School District. It was then learned that Nelson resigned from the Madison School District in 2005, after he was caught looking at adult porn on his office computer. The state investigated, but found no reason to revoke Nelson’s teaching license. Meanwhile, the Madison School District has defended its handling of Nelson. He worked for three school districts after he left that city. And Madison’s human resources director, Bob Nadler, said he can’t remember any of those schools contacting him for a reference.

Frechette Back in Court

1/29/11 - A Beaver Dam woman, accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a former employer, has waived her right to a preliminary hearing. Mary A. Frechette is charged with felony Theft for allegedly stealing $4600 from a Beaver Dam Kwik Trip. According to the criminal complaint, the 44-year-old was falsifying cigarette refunds and pocketing the money. Management discovered the shortfall with inventory software and then reviewed video surveillance before connecting it to Frechette, who could spend up to three-and-a-half years in prison if convicted. She will be back in court February 16 for an arraignment hearing.

Kind Looks to Dispel Health Care Reform “Myths”

1/29/11 - U.S. Congressman Ron Kind says people need more reliable information about the health care reform law. The Wisconsin Democrat took that message to seniors in Eau Claire, yesterday. Kind began his listening session by stressing how the reforms are helping seniors, such as the $250 rebate on prescription drugs last year and the 50-percent discount of brand name drugs beginning this year. But much of the question and answer period was spent on what Kind calls health care reform myths pushed by insurance lobbyists. Kind told the crowd that there isn’t going to be someone in Washington going through each item saying quote this is ok and this isn’t ok. He went on to say he wants to give the power to the patients by giving them the best evidence in the delivery of health care based on what works.

Oh My Gosh Oshkosh

1/29/11 - The Oshkosh Corporation reports a big drop in its quarterly profits from a year ago – but only because it’s in a gap between contracts for its military vehicles. Oshkosh reported a net profit of 99-point-six million dollars from October through December, the first quarter of its fiscal year. That’s down from almost 170-million dollars in the same period a year ago. But when one-time items are left out, the quarterly profit was 1.22-per-share – 33-cents higher than what outside analysts expected. C-E-O Charles Szews said Oshkosh was recently in a transition between its production of high-volume military all-terrain vehicles, to a gradual production launch for the Army’s family of Medium Tactical Vehicles. And he said Oshkosh expects solid profits in every quarter of this fiscal year.

Cheeseman Layoffs Began Yesterday

1/29/11 - Layoffs began yesterday, as a well-known cheese store in Sun Prairie is about to close. The Wisconsin Cheeseman is shutting its doors after 65 years in business. About 100 employees will lose their jobs, and the store’s parent company says the layoffs will be completed by the end of March. Sun Prairie Mayor Joe Chase said the business employed up to 400 people as recently as a decade ago. Chase says he’s trying to find a new business for that location.

Walker Working to Salvage Bass Pro Shops Deveolpment

1/29/11 - Governor Scott Walker still believes that Bass Pro Shops would build a store on a wetland at Green Bay, if the Legislature hustles and approves a bill to allow it. The famous chain of hunting-and-fishing shops said it only learned this week that the proposed site was a three-acre wetland. Opposing Democrats wrote the company’s founder to make sure he was aware of that – and Bass Pro Shops said it would not build on wetlands. Still, lawmakers could vote as early as Wednesday on a bill to let developer John Bergstrom build on the site without having to get a required D-N-R permit. And if lawmakers act that quickly, the Republican Walker believes that Bass Pro Shops would reconsider. Environmentalists and Democrats said the developer, businessman and Green Bay Packers’ board member John Bergstrom, was getting special treatment. But Walker says there’s a reasonable plan to off-set the loss of the wetlands due to the new shopping development. The Packers announced their support for the project earlier this week.

Governor Seeking to Give Local Government More Flexibility

1/29/11 - Governor Scott Walker promises to give local governments more flexibility in cutting their budgets. The Republican Walker told 50 mayors and local leaders yesterday (Fr) that he wants to help them find new ways to keep the growing costs of their employees’ fringe benefits under control. He said it would not be unfair to ask public workers to pay more for their health insurance and pensions. Walker has supported the idea of making state employees pay a bigger share of those benefits, to help state government eliminate a three-billion-dollar deficit in its next budget. Unions currently negotiate health and pension benefits, but Walker has said he would consider removing them as allowable items for bargaining.

Top Stories, January 28th

Man Suffers Burns During Car Fire


1/28/11 - Authorities are still investigating a car fire in the town of Beaver Dam yesterday morning that left a man hospitalized. It happened just after 11-am on Parker Road. According to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, the driver lost control of his vehicle and ended up in a ditch. In attempting to get the car out it apparently started on fire. Officials say there were able to get the fire under control and were on scene for about 40-minutes. The Sheriff’s Department says the driver did suffer some burns and was taken to Beaver Dam Community Hospital. Alcohol is believed to have played a factor in the crash.

Patnode Leaving Beaver Dam

1/28/11 - Don Patnode will be leaving the Beaver Dam School District at the end of the school year. That’s after the school board unanimously approved accepting his resignation during a special meeting last night. Patnode is currently the principal of the district’s Don Smith Learning Academy. He’s been with the district for 20-years and prior to this year he had been serving as the high school principal since 2006. Superintendent Steve Vessey says Patnode cited personal reasons for his resignation. The district hopes to begin looking for a replacement early this spring. Patnode has been the main focus of two open records requests filed against the district and Vessey in the past six months.

Columbus Funds Street Maintenance Projects

1/28/11 - Reacting to a recent resident survey the Columbus Council voted to allocate $500 thousand dollars annually to major Street Repair and $50 thousand to street “maintenance” projects. This week the Council received initial 2011 street maintenance recommendations from the City’s engineering consultant. Columbus residents are likely to face at least 10 improvement projects on some of the busier streets during the 2011 construction season.

Spike In Mail, Phone Scams In Columbia County

1/28/11 - Columbia County authorities are warning the public of an increase in local mail and phone scams. Sheriff Dennis Richards says in the last two weeks there have been over a dozen scams reported in the greater-Columbia County area. Emails or letters have been sent to area residents announcing they’ve won a large amount of money in a sweepstakes and have to send a money order to cover fees. Sometimes a fake check will be sent. A phone scam that is popular in the area again has the caller claim to be authorities from overseas saying that a friend of loved one has been arrested and needs bond money. There have also been scams reported where the con artist impersonates a member of the military who calls needing money to travel back to the U.S. Sheriff Richards says the public needs to be very cognizant and diligent when they are solicited to send money anywhere. There are also many variations on these scams and he says anyone with concerns or questions should contact local law enforcement or the state Consumer Protection Agency.

Waupun Woman Jailed For Burglarizing Ex

1/28/11 - A Waupun woman will spend 90 days in jail for burglarizing her ex-boyfriends house. It all started last August, when the victim approached a police officer saying he wanted to report an attempted murder. He had awoken to the smell of natural gas and discovered the burners on his stove were turned on but not lit. There was a kerosene lantern that was lit in the living room. His laptop was stolen along with his camera, cell phone and other computer equipment. He suspected his ex because there were some racy photos of her on his laptop. After ten minutes of questioning, Marcia Fielder confessed to police that she stole the items and threw them in the woods. The 51-year-old also told police that she had turned the burners on and forgot about them, while making spaghetti. She said she had trouble remembering things. Fiedler pleaded “no contest” to felony Theft and Burglary while felony counts of Arson and Reckless Endangerment were dismissed. In addition to three months in jail with Huber work privileges, Fiedler was placed on probation for three years and ordered to pay $476 in restitution.

Five Months For Town of Shields Burglar

1/28/11 - A Jefferson County man will spend 150 days in jail for burglarizing a house in the Town of Shields. Tyler Parpart of Jefferson pleaded “guilty” this week in Dodge County court to a felony charge of Theft of Movable Property. The 24-year-old smashed open the back door of the residence in October of 2009 and stole guns, a television and a safe with around $6000 in cash.

Wiebelhaus Waives Prelim In 2006 Chase

1/28/11 - A Neosho man will proceed to trial on charges that he sparked a police chase nearly five years ago. Robert J. Wiebelhaus waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday and had an arraignment hearing set for next month. Wiebelhaus is charged with felony fleeing for allegedly running from police in March of 2006. According to the criminal complaint, the 39-year-old was speeding on Highway 67 in the village of Neosho and refused to pull over when police initiated a traffic stop. Wiebelhaus reportedly led police on a one-mile chase through an old garbage dump to Highway 60. His vehicle left the roadway, vaulted over a hill and then got stuck in a heavily wooded area. Several beer cans were found in the car but Wiebelhaus was nowhere to be found. A warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to show up to his first initial appearance in 2006. Wiebelhaus had a cash bond set at $500 during an Initial Hearing earlier this month.

Teen Gets Probation For Parks Dept Break-In

1/28/11 - A teen who broke into the Beaver Dam Parks and Recreation building on Christmas Eve has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. Donny J. Lafferty was charged with felony burglary but pleaded to reduced misdemeanor charges of Attempted Theft and Disorderly Conduct and had a Trespass charge dismissed but read into the record. Authorities responded to a silent alarm at the city-owned building on West South Street just after 4am and found the 18-year-old inside. 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. Lafferty was placed on probation, ordered to obtain his high school diploma and must pay $275 in restitution.

Cleaning Lady Thief Pleads To Reduced Charges

1/28/11 - A Madison cleaning lady who stole thousands of dollars from a customer in Dodge County pled to reduced misdemeanor charges yesterday. 25-year-old Erin Posthuma had been charged with felony Theft for stealing the money throughout the winter of 2009. Authorities say the man signed blank checks and she wrote in a higher amount than she should have been paid, sometimes as much as $1000 more on some occasions. Posthuma was placed on probation for one year and has a restitution hearing set for March 8.

Vehicle Description In Paintball Vandalism

1/28/11 - The Beaver Dam Police Department has a partial vehicle description in a recent paintball vandalism spree. A witness reported to police Wednesday that they saw a brown SUV, possibly a Chevrolet Trailblazer, outside the Beaver Dam Middle School. A subject got out and paint-balled the school, leaving orange paint ball marks on the west and north sides of the building. There were three reports of homes and vehicles targeted Tuesday night on Lakeshore, De Clark and North Spring streets. Three more reports were made filed yesterday on Grove, Henry and South University. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department.

Found du Lac Outlaws Fake Pot

1/28/11 - The City of Fond du Lac has joined Beaver Dam and 16 other communities around the state in enacting an ordinance prohibiting the possession of synthetic marijuana. The Council unanimously adopted the ordinance this week makes it a municipal violation to possess. Deputy Police Chief Kevin Lemke says they hope the ordinance is a temporary measure and federal and state officials will create their own laws. The fine for possessing it in Fond du Lac will be $208.

Appeals Court Sides With Former Sauk Co Sheriff

1/28/11 - A state appeals court said Thursday that a former Sauk County sheriff acted properly when he rejected a county supervisor’s request to obtain records. Thomas Kriegl wanted information about jail inmates on work release. But then-Sheriff Randy Stammen said there were not specific documents that contained what Kriegl was asking for. And he would have needed somebody to dig through 100-thousand pages of records to find the information that Kriegl requested. A circuit court also ruled in favor of Stammen, but the judge rejected the sheriff’s request to have Kriegl pay his legal fees in the case. The circuit court did not give a reason for the denial – and the appellate judges told the circuit court to reconsider that part of Thursday’s ruling.

Fitzgerald Doubts Smoking Ban Retooling

1/28/11 - Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald says there’s not much interest by the new Republican majority in the Legislature to revisit Wisconsin’s smoking ban. The Republican from Horicon says lawmakers seem to want to “move past” what was a very divisive issue. Although Fitzgerald believed it was wrong for a private business to be told what to do regarding a legal product like tobacco. Governor Walker has also signaled that he’s not interested in renewing debate on smoking and the Tavern League isn’t pushing for any action on the issue. A report from the UW this week cites evidence that the ban has not been an economic burden for bars and restaurants.

Legislators Forward Tax Cut Bill

1/28/11 - The Wisconsin Legislature gave its final approval Thursday to tax cuts for businesses that create jobs. The Senate voted 25-to-8 to send the measure to Republican Governor Scott Walker – who proposed it as part of his overall plan to boost the state’s economy. All eight no votes were from Democrats. Six other Democrats joined all the Republicans in okaying the tax break. Companies will get an income tax discount of between 92-and-316 dollars for every job they create over the next two years. Chippewa Falls Republican Terry Moulton called the tax cuts modest – and he believes it will encourage at least some businesses to add more employees. Also, Moulton said it would create what he called “employer confidence” when the tax cut is combined with Walker’s other bills. But Democrats say the tax break is not enough to spur new hiring. Monona Democrat Mark Miller said it would only add another 67-million-dollars to the state’s revenue shortfall between now and mid-2013. The tax break is expected to reduce tax revenues by 33-and-a-half million dollars a year. Walker will explain during the next month how he plans to eliminate the state’s deficit.

Walker Signs-Off on Tort Reform

1/28/11 - Governor Scott Walker approved major changes today in the way Wisconsin courts treat civil liability cases. The Republican governor signed a bill that limits damages in suits filed against companies and doctors. Walker said it still guarantees that businesses which cause harm will be “rightfully” penalized, while reducing the frivolous lawsuits that companies fear, especially small businesses. Democrats say the measure doesn’t create a single job, and it puts profits ahead of public safety. Among other things, the new law puts limits on punitive damages, except in cases against drunk drivers. It restricts the types of expert testimony that can be given in liability trials. And it requires plaintiffs to identify the companies they accuse of causing harm. That measure is designed to nullify a 2005 State Supreme Court ruling which allowed the family of a Milwaukee youngster to sue all lead-paint manufacturers, because the family didn’t know which company provided the paint that made the child sick. The law takes effect in 10 days, and it applies to all lawsuits filed after that time – even if the plaintiffs were injured before the bill was passed. But the head of a trial lawyers’ group said it’s unconstitutional to apply the law to those injured before it was enacted. And the group expects a legal challenge on that.

Museum Directors Make Super Bowl Bet

1/28/11 - Have those football bets by public leaders gone too far? You’ve got to wonder, after art museums in Milwaukee and Pittsburgh made a bet on the Super Bowl. The museum whose team loses will have to give the other one a fine Impressionist painting – but only as a temporary loan. If the Packers beat the Steelers, the Milwaukee Art Museum will get “Bathers with Crab” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. If the Steelers win, the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh will get “Boating on the Yerres” by Gustav Caillebotte. Modern art critic Tyler Green convinced the two museums to make a bet on the Big Game. He did the same a year ago with museums in New Orleans and Indianapolis, just before the Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl-44. Milwaukee Art Museum director Daniel Keegan says he looks forward to displaying the Renoir where the public can be reminded of the quote, “superiority of the Green Bay Packers.” Pittsburgh museum director Lynn Zelevansky says she doesn’t believe in trash talk. She says the excellence of the Steelers and her museum’s collection speak for themselves.

Top Stories, January 27th

Interquest, Legion, Slosser Recognized By Chamber

1/27/11 - The Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce held their annual dinner last night recognizing the Business, Non-Profit and Citizen of the Year. Inter-Quest Corporation was named the 2011 Business of the Year. Owner Jeff Davidson says it’s the employees that make the company what it is. American Legion Post #146 is this year’s Non-Profit winner. Legion Commander Robert Koch credits the 400 members of the Legion and its volunteers for their success in the community. Citizen of the Year is none other than WBEV’s own Laura Slosser. Good Karma Broadcasting president and CEO Craig Karmazin says the station is proud to have Laura as part of its team and the Beaver Dam community is very lucky to have Slosser as part of its family. Also last night, Outgoing Chamber Board of Directors President Michell Lesher was named the Volunteer of the Year.

Missing Madison Man Could Be In Dodge County

1/27/11 - Authorities are seeking the publics help in locating a missing Madison man believed to be in the Dodge County area. 22-year-old Joseph Sjoberg was last seen on December 1. Madison Police Detective Clare McCoy says his family is very concerned. Sjoberg is believed to be in the area of Seven Hills Road and Maiden Lane in rural Dodge County, east of Columbus. He was last seen driving a 1991 silver or gray Chevrolet Caprice with Washington State license plates (513WYN). Sjoberg is described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes, five-feet ten inches tall, weighing approximately 180 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Madison Police Department, your local law enforcement agency or 9-1-1.

Salek Arraigned

1/27/11 - A Burnett man accused of running from police and resisting arrest entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment Wednesday morning. Authorities say they pulled over David Salek earlier this month in the town of Lomira. When the officer went to check his license, the 46-year-old allegedly took off, leading police on a five mile pursuit. Top speeds were said to be around 50-miles per hour. Salek did finally pull over near the intersection of County Highways V and W. Deputies say once he was out of the car he was uncooperative and became combative so they tased him twice to bring him under control. Salek is charged with felony Fleeing and Bail Jumping along with misdemeanor Resisting Arrest, Operating After Revocation and Operating While Intoxicated – Fourth Offense. He is being held on a $75,000 cash bond and has a status conference scheduled in March.

Teen Waives Prelim on Burglary Charge

1/27/11 - A Horicon teen recently waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges that he burglarized a home and business in Mayville. 17-year-old Cory J. Frederiksen and a juvenile friend are accused of breaking into the friend’s grandfathers’ house in May and stealing a cell phone, pills and keys to the grandfathers business. The two are then said to have gone to the business and stole cash. The teens used the stolen cell phone and police were able to use that to connect them to the crime. Frederick will be back in court next month.

BDPD Investigates Paintball Vandalism

1/27/11 - The Beaver Dam Police Department is investigating a paintball vandalism spree. There were three reports of homes and vehicles targeted Tuesday night between 10pm and 11:30pm. Paintball damage was targeted on Lakeshore, North Spring and De Clark streets. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department.

Charter School Groundwork Being Laid

1/27/11 - The Waupun School District is continuing to move forward in preparing to open for the former Fox Lake Elementary building as a charter school this fall. Superintendent Don Childs says they are beginning the grant writing process and will also begin scheduling tours of current charter schools. Childs says the school will focus on agriculture and environmental studies, with emphasis on using technology and field work to better students learning. The first year will run kindergarten through sixth grade, a second year would include seventh graders, and the third year would allow for eighth graders. Childs says they aren’t sure how many kids would be attending the first year but thinks 100 would be the minimum they could open with. Officials say a grant will be used to operate the school, and the reopening will not have an impact on the district’s tax levy.

Dodgeland Board Approves Bids

1/27/11 - The Dodgeland School Board this week approved several bids for a variety of different projects. A bid of nearly $19,000 from Convergent Solutions was approved for an addition to the security system. Part of the costs for the upgrade will be paid for with grant funding. The board also approved a bid of just more than $25,000 from Baseman Hardwood Floors to sand, stripe, and refinish the gym floor. A plan to resurface the schools track was put on the back burner until the board can get more information as the project is a major expenditure.

Medicaid Programs Face $214M Deficit

1/27/11 - Wisconsin’s Medicaid health care programs for the poor-and-elderly will have a deficit of 214-million-dollars in the current fiscal year. That’s what state Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith told a congressional committee in Washington Wednesday. The shortfall has grown considerably in recent months, as the recession and its aftermath forced a growing number of people to get on government care. The Medicaid deficit is about 26-million-dollars higher than it was projected to be in December – and 66-million higher than the estimate from last November. Smith told the House Budget Committee that Wisconsin is not alone, as other states also struggle with growing numbers of cases. Governor Scott Walker said earlier this week that the Legislature will have to fix a deficit in the current state budget that ends June 30th – but he has not said how big the deficit will be. Today’s Washington hearing was the first to be run by the new Budget Committee chairman, Janesville Republican Paul Ryan.

State Cranberry Harvest Up

1/27/11 - Last year’s cranberry crop in Wisconsin was the second-highest ever, despite problems caused by the weather. The U-S-D-A said the Badger State made three-point-nine-six million barrels of cranberries in 2010 – up less than one-percent from the previous year. Nationally, production was down by two-percent to around six-point-eight million barrels. Wisconsin is the nation’s top cranberry producer, and it made 58-percent of the U-S total. Growers had to deal with warmer-than-normal temperatures last April. And a hot-and-humid summer produced heavy rains, which led to too much water in the bogs. Some farmers had complained that the heavy moisture caused some of their crops to rot.

Top Stories, January 26th

Former Randolph Principal Charged With Sex Crime

1/26/11 - A former principal in the Randolph School District who’s accused of arranging sex with an underage boy remains jailed today on a $20,000 cash bond. New Holstein School Superintendent Christopher Nelson allegedly took out an ad on craigslist, chatted online with a male who said he was 15-years-old and then arranged a rendezvous. The 58-year-old was arrested when he reportedly tried to meet the person, who was actually a Milwaukee police detective. Nelson started teaching in Randolph in 1974 and was principal for nearly a decade before leaving in 1994. He later went on to serve as Athletic Director at the Beaver Dam High School in the late 1990’s and also spent time in the Madison School District. The New Holstein School Board has placed Nelson on administrative leave and met last night to appoint an interim superintendent. The president of the New Holstein School Board told reporters there’s no reason to believe that any youngsters in the school system were involved. Oscar Beilke said he hopes that continues to be the case as an investigation moves forward. Nelson is due back in court with a public defender next Monday, to determine if there’s enough evidence to order a trial. The felony charge of Using A Computer To Facilitate a Child Sex Crime carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, upon conviction.

Watertown Starts Superintendent Search

1/26/11 - The Watertown School Board has begun the process of finding a new Superintendent to replace Doug Keiser, who is retiring at the end of the school year. During a special meeting this week, the board approved the hiring of two people who will partner together to conduct the search. Ron Baxter is the district’s Human Resources Director. John Hedstrom is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of School Personnel Administrators. They will be paid $2500 each plus expenses. The board had looked at six companies that ranged in age from $5000 to $22,000 for their services. Baxter said after a review of the companies that he could do a better job and offer a more extensive background check. The position is expected to be posted in coming days. Focus groups will be used comprised of teachers and staff, students, parents and community members. Baxter and Hedstrom will conduct the initial screening interviews and the board will handle the semi-final interviews. The goal is to have a final selection made by the beginning of April.

Waterloo Middle School Gets Excellence Award

1/26/11 - The Waterloo School District is being recognized with the 2010 Wisconsin Middle School of Excellence award. The Association of Wisconsin School Administrators singled out the Waterloo Middle School and principal Ann Kox in the small school category. Waterloo joins districts in Madison, Brookfield and Green Bay in receiving the honor. They are among more than 80 Exemplary Middle School identified for the award. A panel of judges made up of middle school principals and representatives from the state Department of Public Instruction reviewed the applications. They examined the schools efforts and accomplishments in the areas of collaborative leadership and personalization of the school environment along with curriculum, instruction and assessments. Schools were invited to apply for the award if they were in the top ten percent of all schools in reading and math scores on the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam. Schools were also eligible if they made significant gains in reading or math scores over the past year. Representatives from the four winning schools will be recognized at AWSA Awards Luncheon in Lake Geneva next month.

Obama Delivers State of the Union


1/26/11 - President Obama will visit Manitowoc today to highlight the economic message he delivered in last night’s State-of-the-Union address. Obama called for new investments in infra-structure and innovation. He called for a five-year spending freeze on a small part of the federal budget. And while Republicans said they were elected to throw out much of the Obama agenda, the president said the election was instead a call for unity and cooperation. Janesville House Republican Paul Ryan delivered his party’s 10-minute response to the State-of-the-Union speech. Ryan said the nation is approaching a “tipping point.” And if government’s growth is left unchecked, Ryan said quote, “America’s best century will be considered our past century.” U.S. Senator Ron Johnson also issued a response in which he said the country needed to attack the root of its problems not the symptoms. Democratic Senator Herb Kohl said Obama’s focus on creating jobs, growing the economy and tackling the deficit was the right message. Kohl went on to say it will take discipline and bipartisanship to get the job done.

Bills to Go to Walker’s Desk

1/26/11 - Wisconsin lawmakers have given their final approval to two more pieces of Governor Scott Walker’s economic agenda. The Senate voted to eliminate state income taxes for two years for companies that relocate in Wisconsin. And they voted to add 25-million-dollars to an existing program that gives tax credits for a variety of economic development measures. A handful of Democrats joined the Republican majority in approving both measures, which now go to Governor Walker for his signature. Meanwhile, the Assembly voted to give businesses a tax deduction for every job they create this year. The Senate will take up the plan tomorrow. The actual tax break would range from 92-to-316 dollars per job – something Democrats say would not be enough to encourage companies to add workers.

DNR Worried About Lead Bullets

1/26/11 - The state’s Natural Resources Board was told yesterday that the use of lead bullets by deer hunters is causing growing health concerns. The board held a seminar on the use of lead shot, with a possibility of considering restrictions down the line. David Clausen said he X-rayed 20 packages of venison from his home freezer – and three of the packages had major contamination from the lead shot he used to kill the deer. The seminar was held amid new studies showing that lead hunting ammunition and fishing tackle are causing more people to get sick. And it’s poisoning a growing number of protected animals like eagles and loons. Milton Friend of the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison said the amount of lead in the body can increase 50-percent just by eating deer meat and other game. Julie Langenberg of the International Crane Foundation at Baraboo said 30-percent of loon deaths were caused when the animals ate things like lead sinkers used by anglers. The federal government banned lead for waterfowl hunting a number of years ago. Friend said regulations are the only way manufacturers will make more non-toxic ammunition.

Man Fired Over Packers Tie Offered His Job Back

1/26/11 - The Chicago area car dealer that fired a salesman for wearing a Green Bay Packer tie has changed its mind. But John Stone says he’s not going back. Stone wore the Packer tie to work on Monday, the day after the Chicago Bears lost to Green Bay with a bid to the Super Bowl at stake. Stone said he did it to honor his late grandmother, who was a big Packer fan. But his boss, Jerry Roberts, said his Chevrolet dealership in Oak Lawn has done promotions involving the Bears – and he was afraid the Packer tie would scare customers away. Roberts said he asked Stone five times to remove the tie before firing him. Now, Roberts says Stone can come back if he wants. But another Chevy dealer offered him a job – and it’s his pending a formal interview.

No Place Like Home

1/26/11 - The Green Bay Packers will not have cheerleaders at the Super Bowl. U-W Green Bay and Saint Norbert College provide cheerleaders for the Packers’ home games. And those schools said yesterday that the Packers will not take any of their home game promotional elements to Dallas for the February sixth game against Pittsburgh. Team spokesman Aaron Popkey said the cheerleaders, the Tundra-Line drum group, the Ambassador Line, and D-J Malcolm are “unique” to Lambeau Field – and they’re never involved in any games away from home. Saint Norbert athletic director Tim Bald said his school was honored to be involved at the home games. U-W Green Bay cheering coach Ann Rodrian said her team will be disappointed to stay home. That’s because they were invited to the Packers’ last two Super Bowl appearances in the 1990’s – and they raised most of their own funding for those trips.

Columbus Coach Recognized For 500 Wins

1/26/11 - Columbus Coach Jeff Schweitzer was recognized Monday night at the School Board meeting for reaching the “500 game wins” mark AND his 30 years of coaching. Only seven other Wisconsin Girls’ High School Basketball coaches in history have recorded 500 career wins. This year’s Girl Cardinals have gone on to win four more games since Schweitzer reached the 500 games won mark on January 7. Schweitzer said support from the School community was a key to his to his outstanding record.

Higgins Resigns As Horicon Principal

1/26/11 - Horicon Assistant High School Principal Jeff Higgins has resigned effective at the end of this school year. The school board unanimously approved a resignation agreement with Higgins last night. Higgins was put on administrative leave, while serving as Principal of the high school, in early June when issues between he and his staff came to light, but was reinstated in August. The school board approved a preliminary notice of non-renewal last month, which accelerated the resignation process. Higgins had been under contract until the end of June 2012.

Wisconsin Students Above National Average

1/26/11 - Wisconsin’s fourth-and-eighth graders scored higher-than-average on a national science test. But African-Americans continue to lag behind in their performance. The National Assessment of Educational Progress released some of the results Tuesday of a test given in early 2009 to a sampling of fourth, eighth, and 12th graders around the country. Wisconsin’s average science score was 157 for the two youngest grades – eight points higher than the national score. The top score was 300. The state’s impoverished students and those with disabilities also did better than their national averages. But black fourth-graders in Wisconsin scored 43 points less than their white counterparts, and black eighth-graders scored 44 points less. The previous National Assessment was given in 2005 – and the exam was reworked for ’09, so comparisons cannot be made with past results.

BD Residents Urged To Clear Crosswalks

1/26/11 - The Beaver Dam Department of Public Works is reminding residents to shovel their snow. Director David Stoiser says that city ordinance requires that any snow or ice accumulations on public sidewalk fronting private properties must be removed each time it snows. Stoiser also says that city residents on corner lots are responsible for clearing their crosswalks at intersections. Ice accumulations that cannot be removed must be treated with a deicing or abrasive agent. Violation results in the city removing the snow or treating the ice with costs assessed against the property owner. Repeat violations are referred to the Police Department for possible citations. Small quantities of rock salt and sand-salt mixture are available to city residents only at the Public Works Building on South Center Street.

Consumer Officials Warn of Super Bowl Scams

1/26/11 - Consumer officials are warning Packer fans to make sure the Super Bowl tickets they buy are legit – and to have them in hand before leaving for Dallas. Meanwhile, authorities are still getting complaints about ticket scams from last Sunday’s N-F-C Championship Game between the Packers and Bears in Chicago. A Waukesha woman told police she got victimized by an Internet ad selling tickets for 150-dollars each. The seller said he couldn’t go to the game, and he would sell four tickets to the woman if she wired 500-dollars to England. The seller promised not to collect the money until she could inspect the tickets. But she never got the tickets, and the money was long stolen. Consumer officials urge you to buy Super Bowl seats only from reputable sellers. The cheapest price today on the N-F-L’s official Ticket Exchange is 25-hundred-dollars for an end zone seat in the top deck. Also, officials say to be on the lookout for fake tickets. State consumer protection director Michelle Reinen says legitimate tickets are on heavy paper with bar-codes, holograms, raised ink, and heat-sensitive logos that disappear with the touch of a thumb.

Harley Losses Down

1/26/11 - Harley-Davidson lost more money in the last quarter, but not as much as a year ago. The legendary Milwaukee motorcycle-maker reported a loss of almost 47-million dollars from October-through-November. That’s down from 219-million in the same quarter of 2009 – when 167-million was spent on a shutdown of Harley’s Buell sport cycle division. The loss was about a dime-per-share less than what outside analysts had expected. Total sales were up 20-percent from the year before, to almost 920-million dollars. But Harley’s financial services operation was a big key to that gain. Actual motorcycle sales dropped by one-percent throughout the world, and two-tenths-of-a-percent in the U-S. Still, Harley C-E-O Keith Wandell said the company feels good about its overall results for 2010. He said Harley is positioning itself for long-term success.

Top Stories, January 25th

Lynch Files Motion To Dismiss

1/25/11 - Attorneys for former Fox Lake Police Chief Pat Lynch have filed a motion to dismiss the molestation and stalking charges he is facing. Lynch is charged with the alleged sexual assault of a 7-year-old child more than 20-years ago. His attorneys filed the motion last week and the state has since submitted its opposition. Lynch was arrested last month and charged with one count of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 13 and three counts of Stalking. The alleged sexual assault occurred in the summer of 1989 at home in Randolph. The victim’s father was friends with Lynch, who was an officer with the Randolph Police Department at the time. The motion states that the victim is unreliable because her father was convicted of sexually assaulting her in 1993. It says the victim failed to report Lynch’s alleged molestation when she reported her father’s sexual assaults in 1992 and is therefore confused as to who her actual abuser was. The victim also said Lynch later kept showing up where she worked, and would drive his police car past her home. He is also accused of stalking a woman who used to work for the Fox Lake Police Department – as well as a man who was dating his ex-wife. The motion states that the Department of Justice determined in 2007 that there was not enough criminal evidence to justify continuing the stalking allegations and the case was closed. Lynch resigned from his job as police chief in Fox Lake in the spring of 2009. The 54-year-old has a preliminary hearing scheduled for February 1.

Police Station Construction Ahead of Schedule

1/25/11 - Construction of the new Beaver Dam Police Station is a few weeks ahead of schedule. Marty Sell with MSA Professional Services told the city’s Operations Committee last night that by the end of the week, the majority of roof truss work should be completed and then the roof will start to go on next week. Concrete floor slabs will be poured in the next couple weeks. Beaver Dam is not using a general contractor in building the $5.1 million dollar facility and in a rare move is instead is using MSA, the architects who designed the facility, to also serve as “project manager” and handle the bidding process. The Operations Committee last night approved another round of bid packages totaling nearly $350,000. This time around the work is for drywall, flooring, tile ceilings and painting and finishing. With the city and architect in control of the bidding process, Sell estimates they were able to save around $100,000 from this most recent bid package. The new police station is scheduled to be completed in the fall.

BDPD Moving Away From Handwritten Tickets, Reports

1/25/11 - The Beaver Dam Police Department will be installing new computers in their squad cars that will make issuing traffic citations and accident reports more efficient. The department recently received a $35,000 Bureau of Transportation Safety Grant for the TraCS System, which stands for Traffic and Criminal Software. The city filed over 500 crash reports and issued around 2000 citations last year. Lt. John Kreuzinger says the new system will put an end to officer’s having to write-out those citations and reports by hands. Kreuzinger says the computers that are currently in their squad cars will be cycled into the new police department. With the $35,000 grant, the city will receive seven Panasonic Toughbook laptop computers, docking stations and printers. The city share is roughly $8600; money that will be spent on computer and software installation along with training.

Beaver Dam-Native Staying On As State Vet

1/25/11 - Wisconsin will be keeping the state veterinarian it’s had for the last eight years. Doctor Bob Ehlenfeldt has been re-appointed by the state’s new agriculture secretary, Ben Brancel. He said Ehlenfeldt knows veterinary science and law, and he works well with people. Ehlenfeldt is a graduate of the Beaver Dam High School and in 2009 was recognized as an Outstanding Alumni as part the districts annual Wall of Fame ceremony. The late Ag secretary Rod Nilsestuen first appointed Ehlenfeldt as the state vet in 2003. That person oversees the surveillance, prevention, and responses to diseases in Wisconsin’s multi-billion-dollar animal agriculture sector. Ehlenfeldt has held various posts for the state ag department since 1985 – including the director of what’s now called the state’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

Top Stories, January 24th

Kamps Directing ‘Voices Through The Fence’

1/24/11 - It’s been ten years since Annette Kamps -- a founding member of the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater -- sat in the director’s chair, but she is back at the helm of a new and, what some may call, experimental production. “Voices Through The Fence” features the work of prisoners from the Fox Lake Correctional Institution and the John Burke Correctional Center in Waupun. It includes 40 pieces presented by five performers in a reader theater-type setting, connected musically by a lone harmonica player and also by Elwood Lee and the Blue Northern Express, who will be performing songs from Johnny Cash’s two prison albums. Kamps says the theatrical production grew out of a Beaver Dam Area Arts Association exhibit from two years ago that also featured the work of local prisoners. She says in addition to visual pieces, inmates also sent in written works. That prompted discussion between Kamps and prison educators on the variety of ways to bring greater understanding and awareness to the prison system. Kamps says in addition to entertainment, theater also has a responsibility to be socially-conscious. She says “Voices” is not meant as absolution for inmates but rather as an opportunity to assist in their rehabilitation as they transition from being behind bars to – hopefully – becoming productive members of society on the other side of the fence. The show will be on the stage of the Beaver Dam Community Theater on Friday, February 11 and Saturday, February 12 with show times at 7pm.

Vehicle Registrations Climbing

1/24/11 - If the roads seem a bit more crowded than ever before, there’s a reason for that. The number of vehicles registered in Wisconsin continues to climb, albeit slowly. That’s according to the Division of Motor Vehicles’ Linda Lewis says there have been more vehicles registered in Wisconsin than before. In 2010, that total was nearly 5.5 million, an increase of nearly 9,000 from this time last year. There are just over 2.3 million autos, 1.3 million vans and SUVs, and nearly 900,000 light trucks registered in Wisconsin. Lewis added there were also about 333,000 motorcycles registered. In addition, the number of low-speed vehicles registered in the state grew from 170 to 267 this year.

BDUSD Seeking Protective Order in Lawsuit

1/24/11 - A law firm is asking a judge to limit the types of questions lawyers for a woman suing the Beaver Dam School District can ask during a deposition on Tuesday. Last month, Cheryl Grulke filed an open records lawsuit against the district and Superintendent Steve Vessey in an effort to get the district to release documents that her attorney, Bob Shumaker, believes will show that she was harassed by former high school principal Don Patnode and two other employees while working in the schools main office. A court order in late December gave the district and Vessey until January 24 to turnover the requested records, and the district says it will comply. Meanwhile, earlier this month, Shumaker asked that at least one person from the district give pre-trial testimony on at least 20-different topics involving the suit. In response, the district's attorney, Lori Lubinsky, asked for a protective order limiting Shumaker to only ask questions directly related to the documents Grulke is requesting. Those questions include whether the documents she requested exist, whether such documents were produced, and if they weren't initially provided, why not. Lubinsky says the rest of the petition appears to be "a fishing expedition." She later added that Grulke cannot use the lawsuit as a vehicle to fuel her "unsupported assertion" of mismanagement of the human resources department under Vessey. Shumaker called the motion one of the more extraordinary things he'd seen during his 25-year career, saying "witnesses usually don't get to pick and choose which questions they want to answer, and I do not know why an exception should be made for Steve Vessey." A decision on the protective order is expected today, and the pre-trial deposition is slated for tomorrow.

Racial Data Collection Repeal Floated

1/24/11 - Two Republican state senators are asking their colleagues to sponsor a bill to repeal the law that makes police collect racial data from the people they stop. Mary Lazich of New Berlin and Van Wanggaard of Racine say they’ll seek support for the rest of the month. And if there’s enough, they’ll introduce the bill. Since January first, law enforcement has been required to get the ages, zip codes, genders, and ethnicities of every person in every vehicle they stop. The purpose is to discourage racial profiling – but law enforcement agencies have complained that there’s way too much paperwork. Sheriff’s deputies in Kenosha and Racine counties have stopped collecting it, saying most of the data is already on the citations they give drivers. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls, meanwhile, says his deputies will continue to collect the data as long as it is required but he says racial profiling is not much of an issue outside the state’s major metropolitan areas.

ALA Tobacco Report Card Grades Mixed

1/24/11 - A statewide public indoor smoking ban was not enough for Wisconsin to avoid poor grades in this year’s tobacco control report card by the American Lung Association. The Badger State received a grade of “A” for its smoke-free air since the ban took effect last July. But Wisconsin got “F” for a 55-percent drop in state funding for tobacco control programs in the last two-year state budget. And the state got an “F” for its overall efforts in helping Wisconsinites kick the habit. The state’s investment per smoker was just 94-cents – well below the federal recommendation of 10-and-a-half-dollars per smoker. But despite the lack of funds, the Lung Association praised the Badger State for a decline in teen smoking. The report said about 11-thousand fewer high school students were smoking last year than in 2008, and smoking among middle school youngsters was also down. Also, the Lung Association gave Wisconsin a grade of “B” for its cigarette tax – which is now just over two-and-a-half dollars a pack. It went up another 75-cents in the last state budget in 2009.

Petri Leads Charge Against Aviation Fees

1/24/11 - Congressman Tom Petri has been named the Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee. The Fond du Lac Republican, who represents Dodge County, says he is looking forward to a busy two years. As one of his first actions Petri, and 115 additional members of the House of Representatives, sent a letter to President Obama requesting that aviation user fees not be imposed to fund the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The congressman says the current system of aviation excise taxes has proven to be a stable and efficient source of funding. Petri says the U.S. has the most vibrant general aviation community in the world and imposing user fees would have a huge impact in addition to being an administrative nightmare. Over the past four years, the House opposed similar efforts during consideration of the FAA reauthorization bills to impose user fees to fund modernization of the air traffic control system. In addition to the Aviation Subcommittee, Petri is also a member of the ‘Committee on Education and The Workforce’ where he has been assigned to the ‘Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education’ Subcommittee and the ‘Higher Education and the Workforce’ Subcommittee.