Top Stories, February 14th

Union Workers Protest At Jeff Fitzgerald’s House

2/14/11 - Over 100 union workers picketed outside Republican Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald’s house Sunday afternoon. The demonstration was organized by fellow Horicon resident Collin Millard with the Iron Workers Local #8 of Milwaukee. The protest was called in response to Republican Governor Scott Walker’s Budget Repair Bill which was unveiled on Friday. The bill would strip public employees' of their ability to collectively bargain for anything more than wages, prohibiting them from negotiating vacation, sick leave and other benefits. Millard says the bill is an all-out attack on the working class and Walker should be creating jobs, not destroying them. He is asking the Assembly Speaker to refrain from taking up the bill and “sit down and negotiate, not dictate.” Fitzgerald was not home during the rally. In a statement he said the state is out of money and either the legislature raises taxes, reduce spending or layoff workers. More rallies are planned in Madison tomorrow and Wednesday. A public hearing on the Budget Repair Bill is scheduled for Tuesday.

Lt. Gov Speaks At Dodge County GOP Dinner

2/14/11 - Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch shared her thoughts with us on the governors controversial Budget Repair Bill during last night’s Dodge County Republican Party Annual Dinner. The bill would eliminate the ability of state employees unions to collectively bargain. Kleefisch – who was the keynote speaker last night -- says this is a different time and we can’t continue to kick the can down the road. She says it’s time to address our fiscal crisis and what the Governor is asking is reasonable and fair and something that the private sector has been doing for some time now. Kleefisch was the keynote speaker at last night’s event. Her speech centered on economic development. Kleefisch says everything the governor is doing this year is focused through the lens of job creation. She says to meet their goal of a quarter million jobs over four years they need to add ten thousand small businesses throughout the state. She says 80% of new jobs are created through small business.

Dodge County Fair Acts Announced

2/14/11 - The Dodge County Fair Association has announced the musical acts for the Main Stage at this year‘s fair. On Wednesday it will be Rodney Atkins, while Luke Bryan will take to the stage on Thursday night. The rock act will be Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. Saturday’s entertainment is still undecided after two separate performers decided to do other gigs. Fair Secretary Sharon Keil is hopeful they’ll have an act in place in the near future. Meanwhile, Ticket prices will stay the same as last year, with entry costing $6 before 2pm and $10 after. Season tickets are $25 before the beginning of the fair and $30 there after. The 2011 fair runs August 17 through the 21.

Columbus To Consider Wastewater Bid

2/14/11 - Acceptance of a $1.5 million dollar bid for a 2011 Columbus Wastewater Treatment Facility upgrade will be on Tuesday’s Common Council agenda. The City is expected to receive a 30 per cent grant from the DNR Clean Water fund for the project. That grant money will allow Columbus to include replacement of the 25 year-old “grid system” at the facility. The $1.5 million dollar lowest bid-plus-alternate cost was submitted by August Winter and Sons of Appleton.

Brookstone Planning Columbus Housing Development

2/14/11 - More town homes will be built this year in Columbus. Last year Brookstone Homes built 24 new town homes in the “Avalon Commons” development on Western Ave. The town home units have all been sold and the developer reports that the City is attractive to young families. Brookstone is planning to bring a second Avalon Commons development of 24 town home units to the same area this year.

Teen Arrested Following Chase

2/14/11 - A Juneau teen was arrested early Sunday morning after he allegedly ran from police. It started just after midnight on Prospect Road in the Town of Oak Grove. 18-year-old James Griswold reportedly drove his truck into a driveway and then got out of his vehicle and fled on foot. He was later apprehended by Dodge County sheriff’s deputies while running down the railroad tracks. Griswold was jailed on charges of felony Fleeing and Eluding and cited for a violation of absolute sobriety, driving without headlights, imprudent speed and trespassing.

Fire Damages Reeseville Barn

2/14/11 - A barn sustained minor damage after a fire near Reeseville Saturday. It started around 2:30pm on the Robert Neitzel farm on Highway J. Officials say calves knocked over a heat lamp in the lower portion of the barn. The family tried to extinguish the flames but the fire quickly spread to the upper portion of the barn. Bales of hay were removed from the barn by hand and only minor structural damage was reported. No animals were injured. Reeseville received mutual assistance from Clyman, Lowell and Juneau.

BDFD Responds To Trash Bin Fire

2/14/11 - The Beaver Dam Fire Department responded to a small trash can fire inside the hallway of an apartment complex Sunday morning. Crews were called out just after 10:30am to 1020 Madison Street. Residents were initially asked to evacuate but once the source of the smoke was identified and extinguished, evacuation was unnecessary. It is unknown how the fire started as no one claimed responsibility but officials say it appears some type of burning material was put into the garbage can. The doors to the apartment complex were opened for ventilation and firefighters were back at the station within the hour.