Top Stories, January 14th

CWC Holding Deployment Ceremony for Teacher, Coach

1/14/11 - There is a patriotic theme in the halls of Central Wisconsin Christian today as the students and staff prepare a send-off for teacher and coach Dan Ten Napel, who has been activated for a six-month deployment to the Middle East. Napel is the high school life science and physical education teacher and is also the varsity coach for boy’s basketball and girl’s volleyball. He is also a captain with the Air National Guard serving with the 110th Airlift Wing located in Battle Creek, Michigan. When he ships out later this month, he will serve as a Deployment Officer at an Air Force Base in Qatar. There will be a ceremony for Napel during tonight’s basketball game against Valley Christian and fans are encouraged to wear patriotic colors.

Columbus Wastewater Grant Higher Than Anticipated

1/14/11 - The City of Columbus received positive news from the DNR this week. The 2011 regionalization improvements scheduled for the Wastewater Treatment plant will be getting more money from state and federal “Clean Water Revolving Loan Funds” than expected. City Engineer Jason Lietha told the Council this week that the $558 thousand dollar DNR grant for the Treatment facilities was 20% higher than anticipated. After initial information to the City indicated that Columbus was “not even on the list” for consideration, the administrative team kept pursuing the application procedures for a Clean Water grant. The timetable for the project includes submission of a Chapter 30 permit and a Public Hearing before actual work can begin. The City hopes to have all the project approval steps completed by May 1.

Neosho Man Appears In 2006 Chase

1/14/11 - A Neosho man was in Dodge County courtroom this week for an Initial Hearing related to a police chase nearly five years ago. Robert J. Wiebelhaus is charged with felony fleeing for allegedly sparking a chase 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 Wednesday and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at the end of the month.

Woman Charged With Smuggling Drugs Into WCI

1/14/11 - A Beaver Dam woman is accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the Waupun Correctional Institution. Annalise Paige Buhrow Cram is charged with felony counts of Delivering Illegal Articles to an Inmate and drug possession. According to the criminal complaint, corrections officers saw the 20-year-old place two pills of methadone on the hamburger of an inmate she was visiting earlier this month. Another four pills was then reportedly discovered inside a baggie hidden in her bra. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 18-and-a-half years upon conviction. Buhrow Cram had a signature bond set at $1000 this week and will be back in court for a preliminary hearing next month.

Accused Embezzler Waives Prelim

1/14/11 - A former bookkeeper with the Lebanon Sanitation Department accused of embezzling over $17,000 will proceed to trial after she waived her right to a preliminary hearing yesterday in Dodge County court. Brenda Hollenbeck is charged with Theft In A Business Setting Over $10,000 and four counts of Forgery, all felonies. The 44-year-old allegedly wrote numerous checks to herself from the Sanitary District, cashed them and then kept the money. In four instances she reportedly forged her boss’s signature. If convicted, Hollenbeck could spend up to 34 years in prison. She has an arraignment hearing on February 16.

Six Months For Stealing From Sensient

1/14/11 - A West Bend woman has pled guilty to embezzling from Sensient Flavors in Juneau and was sentenced to more than 6-months in jail. 46-year-old Wendy Franke must also pay restitution in the amount of $31,000 to her employer. According to the criminal complaint, Franke stole the money over a seven year period ending in 2009. The money was taken mainly from petty cash, involved tens of thousands of dollars in gift cards along with merchandise and equipment from the plant. Much of the money came directly from an account funded by co-workers for holiday parties and company events. It was spent on clothes, appliances and international travel. Franke must also perform 75-hours of community service.

Waupun Man Sentenced In Battery

1/14/11 - A 72-year-old Waupun man will spend nine months in jail after being convicted of battering his estranged wife. James Towers was sentenced after pleading no contest to amended felony charge of substantial battery/intending bodily harm. According to the criminal complaint, Towers attacked his wife after she dropped a framed wedding photo and it broke. Authorities say he kicked the woman and grabbed her neck with both hands while saying he was going to kill her. The woman eventually freed herself and ran outside. She later told authorities that this incident wasn’t the first time Towers had assaulted her. The judge will allow Towers to serve the time in 29-day periods, which will allow him to seek health care treatment.

Salek In Court On Chase Charge

1/14/11 - A Burnett man accused of running from police and resisting arrest has waived his right to a preliminary hearing. 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 will be back in court for an arraignment hearing later this month.

Teen Arraigned On Burglary Charge

1/14/11 - A teen accused of breaking into the Beaver Dam Parks and Recreation building on Christmas Eve has waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Donny J. Lafferty then entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment and has a plea and sentencing hearing later this month. 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.

Threatened Legislators Identified

1/14/11 - Two Republicans identified themselves today as the senators who were threatened in an Internet posting on Craigs-list. Finance co-chair Alberta Darling of River Hills and Leah Vukmir of Wauwatosa both said they learned of the threats yesterday, when authorities told them about it. Media reports said Governor Scott Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch were also targeted for threats, just days after a judge was killed and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot-and-wounded in Arizona. Darling said she talked to River Hills Police and is taking precautions. But she told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, quote, “I’m not going to let somebody ruin my life by fear.” Darling said she had never been threatened in 21 years in the Legislature. Vukmir said she, too, is doing things differently – but it would defeat the purpose by saying what they are. Lawmakers were told yesterday that the F-B-I, the State Capitol Police, and local authorities are investigating.

State Prison Population Down

1/14/11 - Wisconsin’s prison population has dropped for the second year in a row. The state Corrections Department said the average daily prisoner count was just over 20-thousand last year – down 14-percent from 2009. Officials say it’s mainly because of a five-year-old program that helps inmates get ready to deal with the outside world, to try and reduce their chances of offending again. The prisons’ re-entry director, Mary Kay Kollat, could not say for sure if the effort resulted in the big drop in the prison population. But she said it couldn’t hurt. Former Governor Jim Doyle’s early release program did not play a big role. Only 391 prisoners have been released before their terms expired and Republican Governor Scott Walker plans to end that program. Spokesman Cullen Werwie says Walker supports efforts to divert offenders before they go prison, in part by giving judges and prosecutors more leeway at sentencing. Wisconsin’s prison population rose by almost four times from 1990-to-2008, due in part to the truth-in-sentencing law in which most prisoners must serve their full terms.

Fitzgerald On WEDC

1/14/11 - The speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly wants the Legislature to have a bigger say in the proposed new job-creation agency. Republican Jeff Fitzgerald of Horicon says he wants lawmakers to be on the board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation – the partially-private agency Governor Scott Walker wants to create to replace the Commerce Department. Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said the Republican governor spoke with Fitzgerald about his request – and Walker wants to address it. Werwie said Walker is open to working with lawmakers. The governor would appoint all 12 members of the new job corporation, and the Senate would have to confirm them. Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch and Revenue Secretary Rick Chandler would be non-voting members.

Fall River Caucus

1/14/11 - There will be a race for the office of Village President in Fall River this spring. The Village Board finalized candidate names for the April Election at this weeks annual January caucus. Incumbent President Dale Standke will be running against former Village President Mike Lubenau. The three Village Board of Trustees positions will have current office holders all returning for another two-year term. Trustees Ron Kennedy, Duane Durtschi and Steve O’Brion will all be on the ballot unopposed.