Top Stories January 15th

Walker Aide Pleads Not Guilty

1/15/12 - A former aide to Governor Scott Walker when he was the Milwaukee County executive pleaded innocent Friday to embezzling 42-thousand dollars. 61-year-old Kevin Kavanaugh waived his preliminary hearing in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, and his innocent pleas were entered to five felony counts of theft and fraudulent writings. He’s due back in court January 30th, when a trial date could be set. Kavanaugh and former Walker aide Tim Russell are charged with taking a total over 60-thousand dollars in donations. Most of it was meant to be given to veterans and their families as part of the county’s Operation Freedom event each year at the county zoo. Prosecutors said the defendants used the money for items ranging from Caribbean cruises to renewing Web sites for Walker’s campaign for governor. The charges were the result of a John Doe probe of present-and-former Walker aides. That investigation continues.

Eau Claire Police Release Findings on Fatal Accident

1/15/12 - Eau Claire County accident investigators say last month’s fatal crash of a car full of teenagers was caused by hill jumping.  Fourteen year old Austin Gable was driving more than 80 miles an hour when his car went airborne, flying 177 feet, then flipped.  Gable, his girlfriend, 13 year old McKenna Johnson, and 15 year old Marco Perez were killed.  The only licensed driver in the car had let minors drive in the past.  The sheriff’s department is forwarding the case to prosecutors for the possible filing of charges.  Hill jumping is done by driving a car so fast it goes airborne when it crests a hill.

New Council Looking to Help Students Get Ready for College and Careers

1/15/12 - Wisconsin’s new College and Workforce Readiness Council will look at ways to improve student readiness for college and careers.  The panel created by the governor yesterday is to come up with a strategic plan by the end of the year.  The council is expected to look closely at approaches like shorter and less-costly degree programs which would fill high-need positions.  Also, expanding dual enrollment and duel credit opportunity for high school students will be considered.  Small business representatives, people from the state’s workforce, the state school superintendent, cabinet secretaries and officials from public and private universities and technical colleges will be among the 15 members.

Columbus School Board Sees What New Facilities Could Look Like

1/15/12 - A move toward a “21st Century Learning Environment” in Columbus Schools was recommended this week. Erik Dufek of E-U-A presented a picture of what redesign of the current facilities could look like. Dufek said a change was necessary to meet the nationwide decrease in agriculture and manufacturing jobs and the increase the service and creative thinking sector jobs. The Facilities Committee has added another January meeting to their schedule on the 25th.

Registered Sex Offender Being Released in Beaver Dam

1/15/12 - A registered sex offender fresh out of prison will be moving into Beaver Dam on a temporary basis. Deputy Police Chief Dan Schubert says as of this Tuesday, Joseph Volm will be residing on the 800 block of Madison Street. Schubert says state statute requires the Department of Corrections notify the public when a sex offender is released into the community. Volm was convicted of attempted second degree sexual assault of an adult woman but many of his violations were while on supervision in the community and revolved around unsupervised and unapproved contact with minors. Authorities say Volm has served his time and is not wanted by police. Volm will be under 24 hour electronic monitoring. He will be supervised by agents specializing in intensive supervision. He will continue to participate in long-term programming while on parole and will be on a GPS monitoring unit. In addition to the intensive supervision rules, to which he must adhere, Volm will be subject to additional specific rules. These rules include: no contact with any of his victims; he may not be anywhere children congregate; no taverns/bars/liquor stores, and not to consume alcohol or drugs. Witnessed violations should be reported to the Beaver Dam Police Department.

DC Law Enforcement Honored

1/15/12 - The Dodge County Law Enforcement Executive Association held their annual awards banquet on Friday. The banquet serves as opportunity to recognize the employees and citizens that made an impact in the law enforcement community over the past year. Earning Officer of the Year was Detective Jonathan Caucutt of the Watertown Police Department, who was honored for his extensive work in crimes involving sexual predators and child pornography. The Correctional Officer of the Year was Josh Navis, who works at the Dodge Correctional Institution. Navis was honored for his actions when an inmate attacked a prison psychologist in November. Amanda Anhalt was named as the Support Person of the Year for her work as a victim/witness coordinator in the Dodge County District Attorney’s Office. Being named Citizen of the Year was Joshua Schraufnagel, who was called heroic by Sheriff Todd Nehls for jumping into the water in an attempt to save a victim of a car accident in Mayville. Seven county employees were recognized for the Presidents Award. That includes Captain Molly Soblewski who retired after 27-years with the department. The others, Lt. Clint Peachey, Lt. Brad Mlodzik, CO Steve Rumbuc, Sgt. Branden Gremminger, RN Joni Dykstra and RN Shaune Hoban were recognized for their work in resuscitating an inmate at the Dodge Correctional Institution.

Dems Ask Justice Department to Review Voter ID Law

1/15/12 - The U.S. Justice Department is being asked to review Wisconsin’s new voter photo ID law by 22 Democratic lawmakers. That letter was mailed Friday. The Democrats argue that the law will infringe on the voting rights of minorities, senior citizens, students and the poor. Republican supporters of the law say it’s designed to cut down on voter fraud. The Wisconsin League of Woman Voters has filed a lawsuit challenging the Vote Photo ID law. And, the chair of the Wisconsin Bar Association’s civil rights section also sent a letter on the topic to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder last August.

Strike Continues in Manitowoc

1/15/12 - A two-month strike at Manitowoc Cranes will continue, after union machinists voted 140 to 37 on Friday not to approve the company’s latest contract offer. Workers chanted “What’s disgusting? Union busting” as they rejected a second offer from management. The major issue is the company’s effort to let employees get union benefits while having the choice of paying union dues or not. Scott Parr of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said his group was willing to take a step toward that proposal, giving new and existing employees a certain amount of time to decide if they want to stay in the union and pay dues voluntarily. Parr said it’s what the company wanted and they wouldn’t accept it. The firm has not commented. The strikers represent about a quarter of the Manitowoc Cranes 800 employees. But 150 members of a boiler-makers union have been laid off because of the strike.