Top Stories, May 2nd

Beaver Dam Man Sentenced For Child Porn

5/2/11 - A Beaver Dam man on Friday entered a “no contest” plea to charges of possessing child pornography. 28-year-old Brandon J. Alexander could spend up to 50 years in prison for downloading videos featuring pre-pubescent girls from a file sharing website. Special Agents with the state Justice Department say they were able to use specialized software to identify the digital fingerprint of the illegal video and trace it back to all the users who download the video. Alexander originally told investigators that he accidentally downloaded the videos because he could not tell based on the title alone that the files contained child porn. According to criminal complaint, he later conceded that he knew that terms like “12 y-o” means “12-year-old.” Each charge carries a maximum prison sentence of up to 25 years and there is a surcharge of up to $500 for each photograph recovered. Alexander pled to a pair of felony counts of Possession of Child Pornography and had five felony charges dismissed but read into the record. A pre-sentencing investigation and sex offender evaluation was ordered in advance of his August 5 sentencing date.

Veterans Seeking Bids For Memorial Expansion

5/2/11 - Local veteran’s organizations in Beaver Dam are soliciting bids in their efforts to expand the Veterans Memorial at Oakwood Cemetery. There are currently over 1100 names of area soldiers are displayed on engraved bricks, but there is no room left to add any new names. The new addition would allow for another 600 names. The plans call for removing the granite sign that reads “Veterans Memorial” from the main wall and constructing a smaller wall for that sign closer to Highway 33. There would be more space for names on the backside of that new wall, in addition to the backside of the main wall where the granite sign is currently located. The plans also call for the addition of six flag poles along the north side of the main wall, representing each branch of the service. A heart-shaped sidewalk would also added around the main wall. The original Memorial was completed in 2004 after an aggressive two-year fundraising campaign. The price tag was $100,000, not counting in-kind labor donations. The Veterans Memorial Park Committee is hoping for the same generosity with this effort, estimated to cost between $45,000 and $55,000. Any service member, living or deceased, who honorably served their county in war or peace time, can have a name on the wall. A waiting list has been started. Those interested in being involved in the project should have bids postmarked no later than May 20. Contact information is on our website. Contact David Noe, PO Box 97, Beaver Dam WI 53916.

Fall River Student Designs State Earth Day Logo

5/2/11 - Each year’s Wisconsin Earth Day “logo” is selected from one Wisconsin School District… and this was Fall River’s year. The top three finalists from the Kindergarten thru Third Grade 2012 logo competition – Steven Vesnefsky, Jordan Landratter and Claire Walz -- were chosen during last week’s Earth Day ceremonies. The winner will be selected by federal and state USDA officials. The middle school contest judged Earth Day essays on environmental issues. Winners in the essay contest were Micha Book, Kaycee Bull and Amanda Gould.

Beaver Dam Senior Center Announces Essay Winners

5/2/11 - Two sixth grade students from the Dodgeland School District were named the winners of a recent essay contest sponsored by the Beaver Dam Senior Center. Rhiannon Ruffner and Patrick Caine each won $50 for writing the winning 300-word composition. The theme was “My Grandparents” or “My Best Older Friend.” Honorary mention and $25 went to Melanie Knight from the Beaver Dam Middle School. The stories will be read during a special tribute to Beaver Dam’s “Older Americans” on Wednesday, May 18. They’re calling it their “90th Birthday Bash” and it begins at 5pm in the Beaver Dam Senior Center and Recreation Building on East Third Street.

Kennedy Holds Listening Sessions Tuesday

5/2/11 - Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy has listening sessions scheduled for Tuesday. Kennedy says city residents are invited to meet with him, one-on-one, without appointment on the first and third Tuesday of every month. He says it is important that constituents have the opportunity to speak with him the day after each regular meeting of the common council. The meetings are held in Room 109 on the first floor of City Hall from 10am until noon and again from 5pm to 6pm. Kennedy also makes himself available for private meetings by appointment by contacting the mayor office.

More Wisconsin Adults In Poverty

5/2/11 - A new study says the number of adults living in poverty is on the rise in Wisconsin. The Institute for Women's Policy Research and the Wisconsin's Women's Council found that the number of Wisconsin adults living in poverty has risen by 34-percent since 2007. Single households headed by women were hit especially hard in the recession. 72-percent of all poor families with dependent children were headed by single mothers in 2009. Kelda Helen Roys is a Wisconsin Women's Council board member and state representative. She has concerns that Governor Walker's proposed budget will only make matters worse. Governor Walker's budget would trim Wisconsin Works payments, cut some tax breaks for those in poverty, and cut funding for health care. Walker says deep cuts are necessary to balance the state's budget.

Kind Not Ruling Out Gubernatorial Run

5/2/11 - Wisconsin Congressman Ron Kind isn’t ready to rule himself out as a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2012, should Governor Scott Walker face a recall election. Kind says he’s always had an interest in running for governor. He had seriously considered a run for governor in 2010. Kind weighed in on the tumult that’s gripped the state in the past few months over Governor Scott Walker’s attempts to restrict the ability of public employees to collectively bargain. He said it’s heartbreaking seeing how bitterly divided the state has become. Kind said he thinks Walker did overreach.

West Allis Woman, Infant Nephew Die In Tennessee Tornado

5/2/11 - Relatives say a West Allis woman died doing what she did best - trying to take care of a small child. Tammi Glasgow died last week with her nine week old nephew in her arms. A tornado had hit her brother's home in a rural area near Cleveland, Tennessee, Wednesday. The home didn't have a television and the family members say they were taken by surprise when the tornado hit. Though Tammi Glasgow had been staying in a guest room in the basement, she apparently ran upstairs when the roaring storm hit and grabbed the baby. They both were killed by the tornado.

Standoff Suspect Turns Gun On Himself

5/2/11 - An eight-hour standoff in Milwaukee Saturday ends with a 27-year-old man shooting himself to death. Police were looking for the man after a woman had called them to report an incidence of domestic violence. The suspect had broken into a garage in a northside Milwaukee neighborhood when officers caught up with him. When one officer entered the garage, there was an exchange of gunfire, but nobody was hit. Then, the suspect refused to leave the garage. Neighboring buildings were evacuated and the Tactical Enforcement Unit reports the man fired several shots at them during the standoff. Negotiators tried to talk to the man before he killed himself. That happened at about 9 a.m. Saturday.

Boy Injured In Slow Moving Train Mishap

5/2/11 - Milwaukee police say they believe the operator of a slow-moving train never knew about an accident that severely injured an 11 year old boy. Police say two children were playing on the railroad tracks Saturday afternoon when they saw the train approaching. The victim jumped up on a railroad car and, as he was trying to jump off, he lost his balance. Police say the train ran over his lower right leg, then went on without stopping. The boy lost that portion of his leg in the accident.

Madison Mayor: Mifflin Block Party Revelry ‘Unacceptable’

5/2/11 - Maybe that new rule wasn't such a good idea for this year's Mifflin Street block party after all. Madison city officials are second-guessing a decision to let people drink on parts of West Mifflin and North Bassett streets this year. Observers call it the largest and drunkest crowd in recently memory, including violence that left two people stabbed. That block party is a tradition in Madison, coming just before finals at the University of Wisconsin for its more than 45 thousand students. In recent years it had been confined to individual homes on West Mifflin Street, but this year the party was allowed to move outdoors. Police had hoped they would be able to control it like they have the annual Freakfest Halloween celebration. Several people were taken to detox centers to deal with excessive alcohol consumption. Mayor Paul Soglin called the results of this year's block party, quoting, "unacceptable."