Top Stories, February 27th

Jumpers Burglarized

2/27/11 - Dodge County authorities are investigating a burglary at Jumpers Bar on Highway D. Sheriff Todd Nehls says the subjects forced their way into the Town of Beaver Dam bar during the overnight hours of Friday night into Saturday morning and stole an undetermined amount of money from the ATM and poker machines. He said it’s too early to know for sure, but it’s possible the perpetrators in this crime were the same ones who broke into the Dockside Pub and Grill recently. Nehls says their investigation continues but it’s clear the subjects are after the money in the poker machines. With that in mind he’s reminding bar owners to empty the cash out of each machine every night before closing. Anyone with information about the break-in is asked to contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department.

Slick Conditions Lead To Accidents

2/27/11 - Dodge County authorities had their hands full Saturday dealing with rollovers and runoffs resulting from slick driving conditions. Three separate accidents occurred near Highway 151 and Hemlock Road. A rollover just after 2pm resulted in one injury. Two more accidents were reported on the same stretch of road within the same hour. The driver refused treatment after rolling his car on County Trunk Z in the Town of Leroy just after 3:30pm. Three other accidents occurred on Highway 41 in the same timeframe; no injuries were reported.

Biggest Turnout Yet In Capitol Protests

2/27/11 - Madison police say Saturdays crowd at the Wisconsin state Capitol was the biggest yet in the ongoing protests against the governor's budget bill. That legislation would eliminate most collective bargaining rights for the state's public workers. A week ago there were an estimated 70 thousand people on the Capitol grounds in Madison. Police didn't have a firm estimate for yesterday, but they did say the numbers were much larger this time. Protesters marched in heavy snow and 15 degree temperatures. They heard speeches from union members and leaders, as well as actor and Wisconsin native Bradley Whitford and hero pilot Jeff Skiles, given credit for helping land a passenger jet safely in the Hudson River two years ago.

Miller Reaching Our To Fitzgerald

2/27/11 - Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller says he has been in contact with Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald. Miller says he and other Democrats, who went to Illinois to avoid a Senate void on the governor's budget bill, have reached out to Republicans like Fitzgerald on a daily basis. Republicans say the budget repair bill has to pass the Legislature by Tuesday if Wisconsin is to avoid the layoff of thousands of state workers in April. Miller says members of his party are still trying to reach some resolution to the impasse. One possible approach is for the Democrats to contact Republican legislators who might be willing to amend or soften the budget bill. Democratic Senator Jon Erpenbach says his party members are strong in their opposition to the current plan.

Rock River Basin Mapping Study Planned

2/27/11 - The Department of Natural Resources and Federal Emergency Management Agency along with civil engineers from south central Wisconsin communities will be conducting a new mapping study of the Rock River Basin. The detailed, three-year study will have a focus on local flooding problems along the Crawfish River. It has been over 30 years since a comprehensive flood map for the Columbus- Fall River area has been charted. Original plans call for a coordinated effort between the DNR, FEMA and municipal Engineers to complete the remapping.

Sheboygan River Cleanup To Start This Spring

2/27/11 - The Environmental Protection Agency reports the cleanup of the lower Sheboygan River, its shoreline and the harbor will start this spring. It's estimated that more than 50 thousand cubic yards of mud has to be dredged out of the lower river and the harbor. The main pollution problem is the present of cancer-causing PCBs. The chemicals were used in hydraulic fluids and lubricants in electrical equipment made prior to 1977. The former Tecumseh Product plant is thought to be the major source of PCBs in the river. A public meeting about the cleanup project will be held next Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Mead Public Library in Sheboygan.

DNR Curtails Helicopter Deer Tracking

2/27/11 - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has curtailed its helicopter-based program to track deer. The DNR says the helicopter had repeated mechanical problems and failed to capture half the expected number of deer. The program had called for firing nets from the helicopter while it flew, than tagging the animals before returning them to the wild. The chopper only managed to capture half the number expected.

Taycheedah Officer Guilty of Inmate Assault

2/27/11 - A former officer at Taycheedah Correctional Institution could be sentenced up to 240 years for having sexual contact with prisoners. Thirty-nine year old Jimmie Brown was found guilty last week. He was convicted on 16 counts of second-degree sexual assault of an inmate. Brown originally faced 21 charges, bu three were dismissed by prosecutors and the jury found Brown not guilty of two more. A sentencing date hasn't been set yet. He was originally accused of sexually assaulting one inmate at the women's prison in Fond du Lac and having consensual sex with others. Wisconsin law prohibits sexual contact by a correctional officer with an inmate, regardless of consent.

Nightclub Trial Delayed Until After NBA Season

2/27/11 - Because an NBA coach might be called to testify, the trial for Aaron Marheine has been delayed until June. It was to have started next week. Denver Nuggets coach George Karl could be called to the stand in Outagamie County. Marheine is facing charges of theft and criminal damage to property. He is the former owner of the Pulse nightclub in Appleton. Karl owns the building where it is alleged commercial appliances and other items were taken. Marheine says he was allowed to sell those items in exchange for money he spent making improvements on the facility. Prosecutors say property damage totaled more than 60 thousand dollars. The trial was to have started next Wednesday, but now it won't begin until June 25 -- after the NBA season.

Not Too Late For A Flu Shot

2/27/11 - With the flu putting more than 310 people in the hospital since December, state officials are stepping up the call for Wisconsin residents to get a flu shot. The cold and flu season is reaching its peak now. Health experts suggest the shots for all age groups, but especially people 50 years old and older. That's where the greatest numbers of hospitalizations come from.