Top Stories April 30th

Runaway Teen Found in Milwaukee

4/30/12 - A Beaver Dam runaway is back at home with her family. 15-year-old Meredion Emmrich was found Saturday night in Milwaukee, one day after police notified the media of the girl’s disappearance. Emmrich had not been seen since March 25 though there was some contact with the girl by text message early on.

Teacher Charged in Mayville

4/30/12 - A Mayville teacher is on administrative leave after being charged Friday with 12 felony charges stemming from a sexual relationship with a former student.  43-year-old Shannon Cardinal was released on a $5,000 cash bond after making her initial appearance on six counts of sexual assault of a student by school staff and another six counts of child enticement-sexual contact.  The criminal complaint states Cardinal struck up a nearly five-month relationship with a 17-year-old male student last December.  In that time, Cardinal and the student allegedly had several sexual encounters at her home in Oakfield, along with one time in Iowa.  The teen told authorities the relationship began after the two started exchanging text messages about homework related to a Spanish class Cardinal taught, and got more serious as the relationship evolved.  The boy says Cardinal would arrange to pick him up in Waupun, and he would tell his mother that he was staying with a friend.  The boy moved to Iowa last month, and the boy’s sister uncovered the relationship after catching the two having sex at the family’s home.  If convicted, she faces a maximum of 186 years in prison and fines in excess of $660,000.  She’s due back in court June 1^st.

Man Didn’t Stop at Stop Sign Before Being Hit

4/30/12 - Authorities say the man seriously injured Friday afternoon when he was hit while riding his bike failed to stop at a stop sign.  34-year-old Jeremy Ward of Horicon was riding his bike on Decora Road in the town of Hubbard when he went through the County Highway T-W intersection and was hit by a Ford Mustang going north.  Ward was eventually taken to Froedert Hospital in Milwaukee by Flight for Life.  Neither the driver of the Mustang nor his passenger was injured. 

Two Hurt in Rollover Accident

4/30/12 - Two people were hurt when their vehicle rolled over early Saturday afternoon in the town of Lomira.  It happened on Water Road just west of Highway 41 around noon.  Authorities say the driver, 20-year-old Chrystal White was taken by Flight for Life to Theda Clark Regional Medical Center.  Her passenger was taken to the hospital as well. An investigation into the accident is ongoing. 

City and School Officials at Odds in Columbus

4/30/12 - City and Columbus Schools’ officials are struggling to find agreement on who pays for the ball fields kids play on. The city is proposing a fee schedule for school use of the fields that are owned by the city.  However, after discussions at their last meeting it was apparent the school board had no intention of accepting the fee schedule and board member Bill Braun called the fields being used by Columbus students “sub-standard.” The board will be awaiting May 21^st results from a district-wide survey. The results will be used to decide whether or not the district should consider owning their own facilities.

Eau Claire Graduate Killed in Afghanistan

4/30/12 - A Navy lieutenant who graduated from high school in Eau Claire has been killed in Afghanistan. 28-year-old Christopher Mosko was born in Philadelphia, went to school in Eau Claire for about seven years, and graduated from Drexel University in Philly. He was one of three U-S troops killed by a bomb last Thursday in Ghanzi province in Afghanistan. Mosko graduated in 2002 from Eau Claire Memorial High School, where he took part in swimming, soccer, and the show choir. Acquaintances remembered him as a dedicated athlete who worked harder than his teammates and was a self-directed singer. His family moved from Eau Claire soon after Mosko graduated, and is currently living close to his base in San Diego. Mosko commanded a Navy explosive ordnance disposal unit, which was responsible to dealing with unexploded roadside bombs and other improvised explosives. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star awards.

Fiery Crash Under Investigation Near Stevens Point

4/30/12 - A coroner in central Wisconsin says it might take a few days to identify three people killed in a fiery truck crash west of Stevens Point. Portage County Coroner Scott Rifleman said none of the victims were of high school age. Several area schools held their proms in the hours before the crash occurred just after 2:30 yesterday morning at Highway 66 and Birchwood Lane in the town of Linwood. Sheriff’s deputies are still investigating, and they said alcohol might be a factor. Bruce Heath, who lives close by, told the Stevens Point Journal there were beer cans and golf clubs in his yard after the crash. A tool box knocked one of Heath’s small pine trees out of the ground. And his power was out for over two-and-a-half hours. Deputies said power lines were on the ground when they arrived, the vehicle was engulfed in flames, and one of the three victims was ejected.

Guthrie Recognized by National Guard and U.S. Army

4/30/12 - A Beaver Dam-native has been recognized by the National Guard and U.S. Army for earning a certification for Public Relations and Military Communication. Lieutenant Colonel Jackie Guthrie is the Director of Public Affairs for the Wisconsin National Guard and is one of only 19 accredited in the field worldwide. The 1987 Beaver Dam High School graduate is also the only actively serving member of the National Guard and U.S. Army to be certified. Guthrie successfully completed a 90-minute oral presentation and a three-hour computer-based exam that tested her knowledge, skills and abilities in public relations and military public affairs in joint operations to earn the certification that she's been working toward for more than a year. Major General Don Dunbar, Adjutant General of the Wisconsin Guard and Guthrie's supervisor says under her leadership, the state’s public affairs office has won numerous awards and shaped their social media strategy. Guthrie, who now resides in Sun Prairie, says when she joined, her Public Relations was about press conferences, press releases and pretty pictures. Now, she says, it's about the important role communications plays in military operations from planning through execution. Guthrie will be the speaker tomorrow (Tue) when the Beaver Dam Noon Kiwanis Club honors local veterans at a program at the Veterans Center.

Mega Millions Jackpot at $102M

4/30/12 - The Mega Millions' jackpot is above 100-million for the first time since last month's world record prize. Tomorrow night's jackpot is at 102-million, after nobody won the top prize on Friday night. Nobody from Wisconsin won the quarter-million-dollar second prize, either. The current jackpot has been building since March 30th, when players from Kansas, Illinois, and Maryland shared the world record lotto jackpot of 656-million-dollars. Tomorrow's cash option is just under 75-million-dollars for a single winner who takes the whole prize now instead of annual installments. In Powerball, the jackpot is at 50-million-dollars for Wednesday night.

Kennedy to Listening Sessions

4/30/12 - Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy has listening sessions scheduled on Tuesday (Tues). Kennedy says city residents are invited to meet with him, one-on-one, without appointment on the first and third Tuesday of every month. While Kennedy says it is important that constituents have the opportunity to speak with him the day after each regular meeting of the common council, which are typically held on the first and third Monday of the month. Elected officials will not be holding meetings tonight as it is a fourth Monday. The listening sessions are held in Room 158 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. 

Bulk Garbage Pick-Up Starts in Beaver Dam

4/30/12 - Bulk garbage pick-up in Beaver Dam begins tomorrow (Tue). Director of Facilities David Stoiser has announced that bulk pick-up will continue through Monday, May 7 for residents who receive city-provided waste collection services from Veolia.  Stoiser says the collection regulations are the same as in the past.  Bulk waste can be placed on the curb no sooner than 24 hours prior to each collection and by 7am on the day of pick-up.  Bulk waste is defined as, but not limited to, furniture, wooden doors and windows and rolled carpet, not exceeding 4’ to 6’ in length.  No metal items like bed springs, doors, windows, electronics, appliances and pipes will be collected.  Also, they do not accept bundled or loose piles of lumber or building materials; those items must be broken down and placed in the weekly collection cart.  The next bulk pick-up will be the first waste collection day of November. 

Top Stories April 28th

Mayville Teacher Charged

4/28/12 - A Mayville teacher has been charged for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a former student.  43-year-old Shannon Cardinal was in court yesterday to face six counts of sexual assault of a student by school staff and another six counts of child enticement-sexual contact.  The criminal complaint states Cardinal struck up a nearly five-month relationship with a 17-year-old male student last December.  In that time, Cardinal and the student allegedly had several sexual encounters at her home in Oakfield, along with one time in Iowa.  The teen told authorities the relationship began after the two started exchanging text messages about homework related to a Spanish class Cardinal taught, and got more serious as the relationship evolved.  The boy says Cardinal would arrange to pick him up in Waupun, and he would tell his mother that he was staying with a friend.  The boy moved to Iowa last month, and the boy’s sister uncovered the relationship after catching the two having sex at the family’s home.  Cardinal was released on a $5,000 signature bond, and is due back in court on June 1^st.  If convicted, she faces a maximum of 186 years in prison and fines in excess of $660,000. 

Bicycle Rider Hit By Car

4/28/12 - A 34-year-old Horicon man was seriously injured when the bicycle he was riding was struck by a car yesterday afternoon.  Jeremy Ward was riding his bike on Decora Road in the town of Hubbard when he failed to stop at a stop sign, and was hit by a Ford Mustang going north on County Highway T-W.  Ward was taken to Beaver Dam Community Hospital before being taken by Flight for Life to Froedert Hospital in Milwaukee.  The driver of the Mustang, 55-year-old Dale Bath, was not injured in the crash.  The investigation into the accident is still ongoing.

BD Police Looking for Missing Teen

4/28/12 - Beaver Dam Police are asking the publics help in locating a missing juvenile. Authorities say 15-year-old Meredion Emmrich was reported as a runaway by her family on March 28. The last time a member of the Emmrich family has seen the teenager was on March 25. Meredion’s current whereabouts are unknown and police have received conflicting reports; some saying she left the region and others that she is in the immediate Beaver Dam area. She had been in contact with her family via text message but those messages have stopped. Meredion is described as having brown hair and brown eyes, five-feet tall weighing approximately 130 pounds. She has a left eyebrow ring and a scar above her left eye. She was last seen wearing a blue tank top with white sweat pants. Anyone who has seen Meredion is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department (920) 887-4612. Contact information and a picture can be found on our website and facebook pages.

More Vandalism Reports in Beaver Dam

4/28/12 - There have been over five dozen reports of vandalism in Beaver Dam since March 1, and reports keep coming in. For the first time, a vehicle was stolen and tagged with spray paint. Authorities were called out to Beaver Cleaners on West Maple Street Thursday after someone gained entry to their garage, and stole a van during the overnight hours.  Police were able to recover the vehicle that afternoon after a caretaker at St. Peter’s Cemetery found it behind a shed; it had graffiti spray paint in numerous places. Meanwhile, records also show the front window at Kritter Cuts on Madison Street was shot recently by a bb-gun, while the window of a residence on South Spring Street was also damaged by a single bb shot.  Vehicles on Park Avenue and Frances Lane had their tires slashed, while another vehicle on West Third Street had been spray painted.  Authorities are urging the public immediately call 9-1-1 if they encounter suspicious activity.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

4/28/12 - Several local police departments will be participating in today’s (Sat) “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.” The effort is aimed at removing drugs from the streets, reducing pharmaceuticals in the water supply and limiting the amount of pills available for theft or accidental poisoning. Beaver Dam Police Detective Ryan Klavekoske says officers will be collecting unused and unwanted medications at the new police station on Park Avenue.  The Horicon Police Department will host a “Take Back” at the Public Safety Building on Ellison Street. The Juneau Police Department will host a drug collection that Saturday as well at the Public Safety Building on East Cross Street. In Waupun, officers will be at Agnesian Pharmacy on West Main Street. Drop offs are also planned in Lomira, Watertown and Waterloo. A link to a collection site locator can be found on our website. Medications should be brought in their original containers with personal identification removed.  http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/

New Restrictions on Child Farm Labor Scrapped

4/28/12 - The U-S Labor Department has scrapped a controversial plan to put new restrictions on child farm labor. And at least one Wisconsin farm group calls that a big victory. Casey Langan of the Farm Bureau Federation said the face of family farms would have been drastically changed quote, “if these unworkable rules would have been implemented.” Among other things, children younger than 16 would have been prohibited from running tractors or heavy equipment of farms that don’t belong to their families. Children working on their own families’ farms would have been exempt. Langan said thousands of Wisconsin farmers and parents deluged their congressional representatives and the Labor Department with their concerns. But not everyone in Wisconsin was against the rules. Officials at Marshfield’s National Farm Medicine Center said something had to be done to curb the high numbers of childhood farm injuries and deaths. Langan said he understands that concern – and he appreciates that the U-S Labor and Agriculture agencies will work with stakeholders to create an educational program aimed at reducing child farm accidents.

Man Gets Jail Time for Refining Gold with Acid

4/28/12 - The actual charge against an Altoona man was disposing of hazardous waste without a license.  Matthew Hagen also failed to submit hazardous waste report.  The 24 year old was sentenced to four months in jail and three years probation on his guilty plea.  He also has to pay a fine and nearly 42 hundred dollars restitution.  The criminal complaint said Hagen was running a lab in a wooded area of Eau Claire three years.  He was convicted of using acid to refine gold.  Hagen took scrap metal from his job at Hutchinson Technology, put it in buckets of acid, strained out the gold, then poured the acid on the ground.  He reportedly made four thousand dollars from just one batch of refined gold.

Prisoners and Paroles Illegally Obtaining Food Stamps

4/28/12 - The Legislative Audit Bureau estimates hundreds of prisoners in Wisconsin jails, fugitives and parole violators have been collecting food stamp benefits worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.  As it was examining the FoodShare program, the audit bureau ran the names, Social Security numbers and birthdates of the more than 830 thousand people receiving food stamps through records held at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and the state Justice Department.  More than 16 hundred people – many behind bars – were found to be illegally receiving food stamps.  One estimate puts the total loss to taxpayers at more than 1-point-8 million dollars.  The report suggests state caseworkers be given more training to identify applications from people still in jail or in violation of their parole, and therefore ineligible for the benefits.

Top Stories April 27th

Vandalism Spree Includes Hate Crimes

4/27/12 - There have been 59 separate incidents of vandalism in Beaver Dam since March 1.  Police Chief Ron Smith says it appears to be tied to the same group of people. The most regular crime over the past several weeks has been rocks thrown through car windows though two-dozen incidents of graffiti occurred in one night earlier this week. Smith says there were more officers working that night than any other Tuesday in years and officers has their hands full with a variety of calls, including a high speed chase that ended in a traffic crash. That leads him to believe the perpetrators may have access to a police scanner. Smith says some of the incidents have moved beyond simple vandalism. A Latino slur was spray-painted on a business owned by a Latino family which Smith says is a biased hate crime which carries a much stiffer penalty that vandalism. Multiple agencies have been involved in this investigation and Smith says he is using overtime hours as efficiently as possible to bring extra officers in during the evening hours to supplement the police regular shift with foot and bicycle patrols.  Officers are also exchanging information on the incidents during briefings at every shift change. All but one incident was reported the following morning, and that lack of eyewitnesses has hindered the investigation. Smith is urging the public to be on the lookout for suspicious activity. He says if your dog is barking in the middle of the night, assume it is suspicious activity and call the police.

Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

4/27/12 - A decorated soldier from Rock County has been killed in Afghanistan. The Pentagon said 21-year-old Army Corporal Benjamin Neal of Orfordville died Wednesday after his unit was hit by a roadside bomb. Neal was on his second mission to Afghanistan in a parachute infantry regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg North Carolina. His commanding officers called Neal a “true paratrooper” who took great pride in being a team leader. Among his many awards were the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Army Commendation Medal. Neal graduated in 2009 from Orfordville Parkview High School, where he led the wrestling team. District Administrator Steve Lutzke called the death a huge loss for both the school and the community of 12-hundred. Some of Neal’s family members attend Parkview, and grief counselors were on hand yesterday.

Steffen in Court

4/27/12 - A Hustisford woman has waived her right to a preliminary hearing on charges that she supplied her son with drugs so that he can sell them. 55-year-old Debra S. Steffen is charged with Using a Child to Distribute Drugs, Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs, Maintaining A Drug Trafficking Place and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. Authorities say an undercover member of the Dodge County Drug Task Force purchased 20 narcotic pills late last year from her teenage son. Steffen allegedly told investigators that she knew he was selling her prescription medications to make “a few extra bucks” and said he was not a “high-level drug dealer.” Starting last summer, she reportedly started to give him about half of the 60 pills she is prescribed each month and he would sell them for between $2 and $3 each. If she is convicted, the four felony charges carry a maximum total of over 30 year’s in prison. Steffen will be arraigned next month.

Home and Business Expo Begins Today

4/27/12 - The Home and Business Expo kicks off this afternoon at the Heritage Village Mall in Beaver Dam. The annual event is hosted by the Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director Phil Fritsche says the “Home and Business Expo” will include around 65 booth spaces featuring a wide variety of commercial and non-profit organizations for both the home and office. Fritsche says it’s also a good opportunity to meet local business representatives one-on-one.  The Cream Cheese contest – now in its 8^th year - will be among the activities held on Saturday. Participants are competing for a top prize of $250 in each of three categories; visitors will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to sample the winning recipes. The Home and Business Expo will be held from 4pm to 8pm today (Fr) and 9am to 5pm Saturday at the Heritage Village Mall.  The event is free to the public.

ID Won’t Be Required to Vote in Recalls

4/27/12 - Wisconsin voters were assured Thursday that they will not need to show a valid photo I-D to vote in the six recall elections in May and June. The Fourth District Court of Appeals in Madison said no to re-instating the voter I-D law, until it can decide whether to throw out a permanent injunction against the mandate. That injunction was sought by the League of Women Voters, and the appellate court said its final decision won’t come until sometime after the general recall elections on June fifth. The ruling comes one day after a second appellate court in Waukesha refused to throw out the temporary injunction which halted the I-D law, until a judge makes a final decision in a trial held earlier this month. The trial was connected with a separate lawsuit against the voter I-D law from black and Hispanic groups in Milwaukee. The judge said his decision probably wouldn’t come until late June. As a result, the State Justice Department failed to bring back the photo I-D mandate in time for the upcoming recall elections against the governor, lieutenant governor, and four state senators.

Oshkosh Corp Profits Down

4/27/12 - The Oshkosh Corporation reports a 45-percent drop in its quarterly profits, caused mainly by a big change in the company’s military vehicle business. Oshkosh said this morning that it netted 37-million-dollars from January-through-March, down from 68-million in the same quarter of 2011. Earnings dropped from 74-cents a share to 39-cents. Total sales rose by 19-percent to around two-billion dollars. Military vehicle sales were also up by one-and-a-half percent – but the operating income from its Defense Division plunged by 70-percent because the military switched from more profitable heavy vehicles to lighter-and-cheaper models. However, Oshkosh did have a 61-percent jump in its sales of access equipment – like aerial work platforms.

Plenty of Power for the Summer

4/27/12 - No matter how hot it gets this summer, Wisconsinites will have enough power to keep their air conditioners humming. The operators of the Midwest power grid said Thursday that Wisconsin and 11 other states in its territory will have 114-thousand megawatts of electricity to handle spikes in the demand. And the regular demand is expected to be only about 90-thousand megawatts, as high-usage industries continue to recover from the Great Recession. The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator is required to have a reserve of just under 17-percent to provide juice during heat waves. But the actual reserve is much bigger than that, at around 27-percent.

More TV’s Being Thrown Away

4/27/12 - They can’t throw them in the garbage – so more Wisconsinites are dumping their old computers and T-V’s in roadside ditches, farm fields, and nature areas. The state D-N-R says it’s a disturbing trend, and it’s illegal for folks to dump their electronics in the wilderness. Lawmakers voted in the 2009 session to require people to recycle their old electronic items instead of throwing them in the garbage – where they would eventually go to landfills with the potential of polluting the groundwater. The D-N-R says dumping those items also threatens Wisconsin’s waterways. The state has an E-Cycle program in which 150 collectors operate more than 400 sites where folks can drop off their old electronics, either for free or a small charge. A list of those places can be seen on the D-N-R’s Web site.

Newest Wisconsin Millionaire

4/27/12 - Mike Block of New Berlin is Wisconsin’s latest lottery millionaire. He cashed in his winning Powerball ticket yesterday, after matching all five regular numbers on Wednesday night to win the game’s second-prize of a million dollars. Block let the computer pick 10 sets of numbers – and besides his big win, he won four-dollars on a another set. After taxes, he took home just over 672-thousand dollars. A Speedway convenience store in New Berlin sold the ticket, and they’ll get a 20-thousand dollar commission. Block is the third million-dollar Powerball winner in Wisconsin this year, and the second this month. Julie Trainor of Whitehall won a pair of million-dollar prizes in the April 14th game.

Top Stories April 26th

Mayville Teacher Arrested for Alleged Relationship with Student

 

4/26/12 - Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s investigators are looking into a sexual relationship between a 43-year-old Mayville High School teacher and a 17-year-old former student. The female teacher was taken into custody yesterday accused of having sexual contact with the boy mostly at a residence in Fond du Lac County. Sheriff’s Lieutenant Cameron McGee says some of the alleged contact also occurred during an incident in Marion, Iowa. There is no information or evidence that any of the alleged contact took place at or near Mayville High School. The woman has been placed on administrative leave. The Sheriff’s office will be forwarding charges to the District Attorney’s Office of sexual assault by a school staff members and child enticement. (KFIZ, Fond du Lac)

 

BDPD Investigating Two Dozen Vandalism Reports

 

4/26/12 - It turns out Beaver Dam police responded to around two dozen reports of vandalism on Tuesday, the same day the city’s downtown water tower was tagged with profanity-laden graffiti. According to Tuesday’s police briefing, there were reports of car windows being smashed, windshield wipers broken-off and license plates painted on South Lincoln Avenue and North Center Street. There was profanity spray painted on cars in the Budget Country car lot and along city streets. Homes and businesses were tagged on Front, Spring and Henry streets. There were racial slurs spray-painted on the overhead door at Chavas Auto, which is right next door to the police station on Park Avenue. The vandals reportedly even tried to start a garage on fire on East South Street. Mayor Tom Kennedy is asking the community to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity to 9-1-1. 

 

BDPD Citizens Police Academy Accepting Applications

 

4/26/12 - Applications for the Beaver Dam Police Department’s Ninth Annual Citizens Police Academy will be accepted through next Wednesday. Officer Bill Linzenmeyer says the 10-week course covers a number of topics including firearms training, defensive tactics, OWI procedures and cadets even participate in a ride-along. The academy is not designed to certify citizens to perform law enforcement services. The department has graduated 97 citizen cadets in the past eight years and is limiting. The course is free of charge, but is limited to 12 applicants who must be 18 years old, have a clean record and either reside or own property in Beaver Dam. The programs begin May 15 and continue on ten consecutive Tuesday’s through July 10, typically between 6pm and 9pm. Applications can be picked up at the police department. Contact Bill Linzenmeyer at 382-6529 or 887-4614 or email wlinzenmeyer@bdpd.org. 

 

Hopper Officially Cleared Of OWI Charges

 

4/26/12 - The last of three charges brought against former State Senator Randy Hopper for an alleged drunken driving incident last October has been dismissed by a Fond du Lac County judge. Judge Robert Wirtz dismissed the refusing to take a test for intoxication after arrest charge Wednesday. A jury last month found Hopper not guilty of operating while intoxicated and driving left of center charges. Hopper’s lawyer, Dennis Melowski of Sheboygan, says it was important for the former state lawmaker to clear his name. Melowski says Hopper took and passed field sobriety tests, which was the testimony of the Sheriff’s deputy who arrested him. The judge ruled there was not sufficient probable cause for Hopper’s arrest.

 

Milwaukee Woman Cited in DC For Another OAR

 

4/26/12 - A Milwaukee woman, who was the subject of a press release issued by Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls last week, has had another run-in with police.  Angelina Konaha has racked up 30 moving violations to date, a dozen of which are for Operating After Revocation. The sheriff issued the press release last week after Konaha ran a stop sign in the Town of Rubicon at 2:30am. The 29-year-old was cited again early Wednesday morning in Hustisford for Operating After Revocation. Konaha has had her license suspended or revoked a total of 26 times and has been classified by the Department of Transportation as a Habitual Traffic Offender. In fact, two weeks after the DOT revoked her driver’s license for five years, she was caught driving. In his original press release, Nehls pointed out that the state legislature decriminalized Operating After Revocation violations several years ago so that people would not face incarceration. The sheriff says it is frustrating for law enforcement who are just now starting to see the downside as offenders continue to drive and rack up citations, refusing to pay the fines and ignoring suspension notices. 

 

Jobless Claims Drop in March

 

4/26/12 - The jobless rate in the region, and around most of the state, was lower last month compared to February. The unemployment rate in Dodge County was at 7.7% in March, down a half point from the previous month. In March of last year, Dodge County was at 8.9%.  Columbia County was at 7.4% while Jefferson County stood at 8%...both down a half percentage point. Washington and Fond du Lac County are at 7.1%. Dane County continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 5% while Menominee County is again the highest at 16.2%. Of the state’s 72 counties, 67 had less jobless filings over the two-month period and one was unchanged. Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson says “more people are working” and he “expects more to return to work as the hiring season progresses.” Newson also encouraged job seekers to check out www.JobCenterofWisconsin.com which is currently listing over 36,000 job openings across the state.

 

DNR’s Stepp Scolds Subordinate Over CWD

 

4/26/12 - The head of Wisconsin’s D-N-R scolded her subordinates in public Wednesday for waiting so long to test a deer infected with chronic wasting disease. Cathy Stepp called out D-N-R Wildlife Management Director Tom Hauge during a meeting of the state Natural Resources Board in Madison. The deer was shot near Shell Lake during last fall’s hunting seasons – and it was the first wild deer outside of southern Wisconsin to be tested for C-W-D. Hauge told the Board his department took possession of the animal last November 19th. The head of the deer arrived at the D-N-R’s headquarters in Madison on December eighth. But testing work didn’t begin until March sixth. Hauge blamed a communication gap. Stepp then told Hauge and the board that the delay created a hole big enough to drive a truck through. And she said it sent a message that the D-N-R no longer cared about chronic wasting disease – and that doesn’t help the department build trust with the public.

 

Kohl’s Added As Drop Off Location For Troop Care Packages

 

4/26/12 - Add the Kohl’s Department Store to the list of drop-off locations for troop care package items. A local non-profit has put out an urgent call for the public to send care packages to 60 troops stationed in the Afghanistan who lost all their belongings in a fire earlier this month. Linda Hughes with the group “A Case of Caring and Sharing” in Cambria says everything is needed from shampoo to sandals to playing cards. Donated items are being accepted at R and R Insurance in Beaver Dam, Continental Manor in Randolph and now also at Kohl’s Department Store on North Spring Street in Beaver Dam. The packages will be sent out by May 5 and shipping costs are estimated at $900. A more complete list of the items needed is on our website along with contact information.

 

Watertown Guardsman Named Soldier of the Year

 

4/26/12 - Two sergeants from southeast Wisconsin have been named the state National Guard’s Soldier-of-the-Year and Non-Commissioned Officer-of-the-Year. Sergeant Jeremy Smith of Watertown won the soldiers’ award over five other candidates. Muskego Sergeant Darren Habermehl won the N-C-O honor ahead of seven challengers. The awards were part of a grueling three-day competition that included physical fitness and firing tests, a combat tournament, water survival exercises, a nine-mile road march, interviews by senior officers, and more. Smith is from the guard’s 54th Civil Support team of Madison. Habermehl is a part of the 105th Cavalry Regiment based in Reedsburg. Both will advance to the national officer-of-the-year competitions in Michigan next month.

Top Stories April 25th

Urgent Appeal Issued for Troop Care Packages

4/25/12 - A local non-profit has put out an urgent call for the public to send care packages to 60 troops stationed in the Afghanistan who lost all their belongings in a fire earlier this month. Linda Hughes with the group “A Case of Caring and Sharing” in Cambria says everything is needed from shampoo to sandals to playing cards. The packages will be sent out by May 5 and shipping costs are estimated at $900.

Items needed include:

-          Travel size toiletries including: toothpaste, tooth brushes, shampoo, unscented deodorant, body wash, towels, washcloths, unscented wet wipes, lip balm

-          Snacks including: Pringles, Fiddle Faddle, pretzels, nuts, gum, hard candy, licorice, homemade cookies (pref. in a Pringles tube), Crystal Light powder mix, dried fruit

-          Clothing including: brown work gloves, long socks, flip flops or Crocs

-          Items to pass the time including: books, magazines, stationary, cards, writing materials, envelops, card games, travel games, word search books

Option #1

Drop donated items off at:

1)       R & R Insurance, 130 Park Avenue, Beaver Dam

2)       Golden Living Center, Continental Manor of Randolph, 502 South High Street, Randolph WI 53956

3)       Rascals & Rockers Daycare/ Linda Hughes, W1441 Vaughn Road, Cambria 53923

Option #2

Send a tax-deductible donation to help pay the est. $900 shipping cost to:

-          Rascals & Rockers Daycare/ Linda Hughes, W1441 Vaughn Road, Cambria 53923

Option #3:

Obtain a “We Support Our Troops” Flat Rate Box from the US Postal Service for $14.35. Send the items to:

Needy Soldier

A Co. 4BSTB41BCT

FOB Finley-Shields

APOAE 09310

Local Agencies Participating Drug Take Back Day

4/25/12 - Several local police departments will be participating in this months “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.” The effort on Saturday (April 28) is aimed at removing drugs from the streets, reducing pharmaceuticals in the water supply and limiting the amount of pills available for theft or accidental poisoning. Beaver Dam Police Detective Ryan Klavekoske says officers will be collecting unused and unwanted medications at the new police station on Park Avenue.  The Horicon Police Department will host a “Take Back” at the Public Safety Building on Ellison Street.  The Juneau Police Department will host a drug collection that Saturday as well at the Public Safety Building on East Cross Street. In Waupun, officers will be at Agnesian Pharmacy on West Main Street. Drop offs are also planned in Lomira, Watertown and Waterloo. A link to a collection site locator can be found on our website. Medications should be brought in their original containers with personal identification removed.  http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/

Beaver Dam Water Tower Vandalized

4/25/12 - The water tower in downtown Beaver Dam was tagged with profanity-laced graffiti. The vandals apparently climbed to the top of the structure in the Tower parking lot Monday night or Tuesday morning. Director of Utilities Don Quarford says the paint job on the tower is still under warranty and the company has been contacted. This has been the latest in a long string of vandalism incidents that has plagued Beaver Dam over the past several weeks. Mayor Tom Kennedy is urging the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.

Man Convicted of Running From Police, Suspected In Chase

4/25/12 - A 30-year-old Columbus man was taken into custody early Tuesday morning after allegedly stealing two vehicles and leading police on a high speed chase. Authorities were called to a home on South Spring Street in Beaver Dam around 11pm Monday after Michael Lasiewicz was said to be trying to enter his ex-girlfriend’s residence. When authorities approached the home, he reportedly fled in a vehicle he did not own and led police on a chase that reached speeds in excess 100-miles per hour before crashing about a mile south of Highway 151.  He fled on foot and authorities were not able to locate him.  But around 1:45am yesterday, a caller reported that Lasiewicz was on Canary Road.  By the time authorities got on scene, he was gone again, this time in ANOTHER stolen vehicle.  Finally, around 3:15am yesterday, Lasiewicz returned to the home on South Spring Street, and police were able to take him into custody. He faces felony charges of OWI Fifth Offense and Operating a Vehicle Without Consent. Lasiewicz is well known to local authorities.  He was sentenced in Dodge County to jail time late last year for fleeing from authorities in June and escaping from a squad car while in handcuffs. He’s also facing numerous felony charges in Columbia County.

Columbus Schools Survey Arriving in Mailboxes

4/25/12 - Columbus School District households will be getting a survey in the mail later this week. The School Board is asking for additional public input after receiving a Facilities Committee  recommendation to go forward with plans for a two-building District. Surveys will be going out in the mail and on the internet. The survey will also be going to all school staff.  Participants will be asked to respond by May 13^th so the results can be tabulated prior to a public meeting on May 21^st. District residents will be asked to vote and offer comments to give the Board direction in their decision on a November referendum. 

Columbus Considering Annexation For Development

4/25/12 - The Columbus Council, CDA and Water and Light Commission heard a proposal last week to develop part of the Curt Hanson farm land along highway 73 between the Community Hospital and highway 151 interchange. The officials were told that the Hanson land is expected to be approved for annexation in early May. The City would act as the initial “developer” for the proposed TIF District land. City staff still has a lot of work to do in costing out street construction and utility installation for the proposed mixed-use development.

Unemployment Down, Job Losses Up

4/25/12 - Wisconsin was the only state to lose a significant number of jobs over the past year – and it was also among 18 states to have a major drop in its unemployment rate. The U-S Bureau of Labor Statistics announced both those conclusions today. It said Wisconsin lost 23-thousand-900 jobs in the year ending March 31st – and about three of every four of those lost jobs were in the government sector. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, fell from seven-point-six percent to six-point-eight during that same 12-month period. Wisconsin’s unemployment rate has consistently been lower than the nation as a whole. And labor officials say local governments have been the biggest public job-cutters in recent months.

WIAA Moving Girls Basketball Tourney

4/25/12 - A nearly century-old tradition in Wisconsin’s capital city will continue. The W-I-A-A’s Board of Control voted this afternoon to keep the boys’ high school basketball tournament in Madison – where it’s been for every year but one since 1920. But the much newer girls’ tournament will move to Green Bay for at least the next two years – apparently to avoid scheduling conflicts with U-W hockey which had threatened the futures of both tournaments in Madison. The girls’ tournament had been in Madison since it began in 1976. W-I-A-A director Dave Anderson recommended the split decision – and the board unanimously okayed it. W-I-A-A officials could not say how long the girls’ tournament would be in Green Bay. They did not rule out having the event at Green Bay’s Resch Center after 2014 – but they did say there are no foreseen conflicts at Madison’s Kohl Center from then through 2020. Questions about the Kohl Center’s availability in 2013-and-’14 spurred the W-I-A-A to look elsewhere. And Green Bay had offered a package that included 50-thousand-dollars to cover the W-I-A-A’s first-year expenses. There was no immediate word on how Green Bay’s offer might be changed with only tournament on the way instead of two.

Thief Leaves Cell Phone At Crime Scene

4/25/25 - Madison Police say a 33-year-old man left his cell phone at the scene of the crime last Friday, when he ran off with a donation canister held by a 79-year-old Knights-of-Columbus volunteer. It happened at the entrance to a Madison grocery store, where the volunteer was handing out Tootsie Rolls to those putting money in his canister. Police quoted the thief as saying he had nothing to give. The volunteer handed him a Tootsie Roll anyway, while the thief grabbed the money can and ran off. The suspect’s cell phone fell to the ground, and the volunteer gave it to police. It had the man’s name and photo – and police used the store’s surveillance video for additional evidence. The suspect reportedly told police he spent the K-C’s donations on drugs.

Resources Board Hearing About CWD Case Today

4/25/12 - The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will learn more Wednesday about the first wild deer in the far north that was found to have chronic wasting disease. A female deer near Shell Lake last fall was infected. And D-N-R staffers want the Board to respond by ordering at least 300 deer tissue samples within 10 miles of where the animal was found. The D-N-R has also said it’s required to ban feeding-and-baiting of deer in all counties within 10 miles. That includes Washburn, Polk, Burnett, and Barron counties. Until the recent discovery, the only C-W-D cases in northern Wisconsin involved deer in captive game farms. Hundreds of cases have occurred in the southern third of the state.

Accidents Halts Traffic On 151

4/25/12 - The northbound lanes of Highway 151 in Dodge County were closed down for about an hour yesterday afternoon after a two vehicle accident near Iron Road. Authorities say a Beaver Dam man driving a passenger car apparently fell asleep at the wheel and rear-ended a pick-up truck.  The Beaver Dam man was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.  Northbound traffic started moving again around 4pm.

Top Stories April 24th

Community Turns Out for Candlelight Vigil

4/24/12 - Over 150 people attended a candlelight vigil last night for five-year-old Jalyn Schaal of rural Beaver Dam. The kindergartner from South Beaver Dam Elementary was killed Sunday evening after being hit by a truck. A memorial made-up of teddy bears, flowers and candles was assembled alongside the road at 407 Fourth Street. Friends and family of the victim, including a dozen young children, formed a small circle around the memorial as songs like “In the Arms of An Angel” played softly in the background. The rest of the community formed a larger circle from curb-to-curb. Many tears were shed, and a member of the family thanked everyone for coming to remember a special girl. And we’re starting to learn more about the circumstances surrounding Schaal’s death. Beaver Dam police now say Schaal was a passenger in a pick-up truck that had parked on the north side of Fourth Street. The little girl exited the vehicle, apparently walking behind it, before proceeding to cross the street. She was struck by an eastbound vehicle driven by 43-year-old Randall Nehmer of Beaver Dam.

Mayville Police Searching for Man Seen Carrying a Rifle

4/24/12 - Mayville Police are looking for a man who was carrying a rifle down Main Street Saturday night. Police Chief Chris MacNeill says officers responded to reports at 9:50pm but were unable to locate the man. A witness described the suspect as a white male 5’5” and 180 lbs wearing a flannel shirt and carrying a lever-action rifle. Police contacted several people in the downtown area but found no other witnesses. Officers from Horicon and Dodge County also searched the area but were unable to locate anyone. There were no reports of shots fired or any disturbance. Anyone with information should contact the Mayville Police Department.

Home Prices Up in March

4/24/12 - Finally some good news for Wisconsin home sellers. For the first time in since the end of 2010, the average statewide price of existing houses sold by Wisconsin Realtors went up in March from the year before. The Realtors Association said the average selling price was $123,500 last month, up four-tenths-of-a-percent (0.4%) from the same month in 2011. In Dodge County, the median price last month was $106,000 compared to $86,900 last March; that’s an increase of 22%. Columbia, Jefferson and Fond du Lac counties did not fare as well. Jefferson County dropped 15% to $127,000, Fond du Lac County fell 16% to $83,000 and Columbia County plummeted 20% to $108,000. Washington County held steady at $175,000. There were plenty of homes sold in the region with Columbia County selling 50 houses in March compared to 31 a year prior. There were 84 sold in Fond du Lac County up 14. Sixth-nine (69) homes were sold in Jefferson County last month, 21 more than a year ago. Dodge County had 64 home sales compared to 57 in March of last year. The numbers of home sales statewide went up 25-percent from last March to this with almost 48-hundred home sales last month. There were almost 53-thousand unsold homes during the first three months of this year – way down from 72-thousand unsold properties in the same quarter of 2011. State Realtors’ board chairman Rob Keefe says there’s been a pattern of strong sales growth over the past nine months.

Police Hanging Onto More Evidence

4/24/12 - Wisconsin police agencies are required to hang onto a lot more evidence than they used to. A 2005 state law preserves physical evidence in a criminal case until the convict is out of prison and off probation. And then, police need a defense lawyer’s approval to get rid of it. The idea is to help those wrongfully convicted by making it easier to prove that somebody else committed their crimes. Fond du Lac Police say evidence rooms around the country are growing exponentially. Detective Lee Mikulec says a lack of space is a huge issue. His department has 50-thousand items of evidence crammed into three rooms and a caged area. They have everything from electronics to weapons to refrigerated blood and D-N-A. Drugs are handled differently. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls (nails) said marijuana is burned after a suspect is sentenced. Mikulec says guns used in suicides are kept for a year in the event that the case turns into a homicide. Illegal weapons like knives are often melted down when the holding period expires. Guns either go to the State Crime Lab, or are used by agencies for the street or target practice. Vehicles which are seized can either be auctioned off, or used as trade-ins for the new squad cars. Proceeds from auctioned evidence often go to the State Common School Fund, which benefits public school libraries.

Consolidation Looked at in Columbus and Fall River

4/24/12 - Consolidation of Columbus and Fall River Schools is getting lots of attention. Discussions between District Superintendents have included the possibility of conducting a $10 thousand dollar consolidation “impact study.” The Fall River School Board has asked Superintendent Tortomasi to conduct a community survey to determine whether or not residents want to pursue the impact study. Meanwhile, Columbus will be conducting a mail survey this week with one of the questions being “Should the Columbus School District explore consolidating with the Fall River School District.”

No More Booms in Clintonville

4/24/12 - There’s apparently no longer a need to measure the ground that’s no longer shaking in Clintonville. City Administrator Lisa Kuss said portable seismometers and sound sensors were packed up yesterday (Mon). She said officials are confident that a series of earthquakes caused loud booms and house-shaking about a month ago on Clintonville’s northeast side. But Kuss said there have been no calls to police complaining about the booms lately. And according to Mayor Judith McGee, the only remnants are the T-shirts folks bought which read, “I survived the one-point-five.” A one-point-five magnitude earthquake was registered on March 20th – and a much smaller tremor of point-one turned up nine days later. State geological experts said the booms resulted from what they called “post-glacial rebounding.” Apparently, Clintonville was still adjusting after its last glacier melted over 10-thousand years ago – and as the granite keeps stretching, a crack could have been formed to relieve pressure.

Haley-Davidson Profits Up 25%

4/24/12 - In another sign of an improved economy, Wisconsin’s Harley-Davidson reports a 25-and-a-half percent increase in motorcycle sales from the year before. The Milwaukee headquarters released the data after the Motorcycle Industry Council mentioned the news in its latest report. Sales were a whopping eight-and-a-half percent higher than what was originally estimated for January-through-March. The Council said it was Harley’s biggest growth since the third quarter of 2003. Harley plans to release its full quarterly financial numbers tomorrow (Wednesday).

Top Stories, April 23rd

Beaver Dam Five-Year-Old Killed By Truck

4/23/12 - A five-year-old Beaver Dam child was struck and killed by truck on Sunday. It was reported at 5:48pm on the 400 block of Fourth Street, between West and Mary Streets. Beaver Dam Police Detective Ryan Klavekoske says a 43-year-old Beaver Dam man was driving the truck eastbound when the child emerged from behind a legally parked vehicle. The child was pronounced dead at the Beaver Dam Community Hospital. The driver was released last night after investigators cleared the scene and no citations or other charges were issued but Klavekoske says the investigation is ongoing. Beaver Dam School District Superintendent Steve Vessey been contacted so that grief counselors can be on hand Monday for the child’s classmates.

Charges Expected In Juneau Squad Car Hit & Run

4/23/12 - Charges could be filed as early as Monday against a rural Horicon man implicated in a Hit & Run accident with a squad car that injured a Juneau police officer. It all started around 11pm Saturday night while Officer Brittany Borchardt was parked on the side of West Oak Street at South Fairfield Road. A 2000 Ford Explorer reportedly operated by 41-year-old Chad Buelter struck the rear of the squad car. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says the suspect stumbled out of his vehicle and quickly fled the scene. The departments K9 unit tracked the suspect’s scent until 3am Sunday morning when it was lost in a marshy area. Buelter was later taken into custody near Lake Sinissippi around 8am. Nehls says at that time, a preliminary breath test determined Buelter’s blood alcohol level to be point-zero-two (.02). Officer Borchardt sustained minor injuries. The three other occupants of the Explorer were not injured in the crash. A 26-year-old passenger was cited for Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. The accident is under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriffs Department Crash Investigation Team. Buelter could be charged as early as today with Hit and Run Causing Injury and Leaving The Scene of An Accident.

Fire Damages Horicon Residence

4/23/12 - Fire damaged a house in Horicon on Saturday. Fire Chief Jim Bandsma says his department was called out at 10:30pm to 804 East Lake Street and the structure was partially engulfed when crews arrived on scene. The fire started in the chimney and is being considered “accidental” resulting from a faulty chimney. The occupant was using the fireplace and Bandsma says the heat transferred from the chimney to the walls. There were no injuries. The upper level of the home sustained moderate damage while the first flood sustained smoke and water damage; all estimated at around $50,000. Horicon received mutual assistance from the Mayville Fire Department. Crews were on scene for about three hours.

Oakfield Man Sentenced In Waupun Burglaries

4/23/12 - An Oakfield man will spend six months in jail for stealing from friends and family. Mark Mueller pleaded “guilty” on Friday to felony Burglary and misdemeanor Theft and had two other felonies and a handful of misdemeanors dismissed but read into the record. The 27-year-old pawned hundreds of dollars worth of electronics and tools he stole from his roommate’s storage unit in Waupun last April. A few days later, Mueller broke into a Waupun business owned by his brother and then pawned stolen electronics equipment. He was also placed on probation for three years.

DNR Seeking Fish Thieves

4/23/12 - The Department of Natural Resources is asking the publics help in catching a fish thief. Conservation Warden Jake Donar says someone stole fish from a research net in the Rock River near Watertown. The theft occurred within a 24-hour period after 10am on Tuesday, April 4. Donar says the culprit removed the nets from the water, stole the fish and then put the nets back in the water to cover their tracks. The next day, fisheries employees saw the nets were not how they had left them and quickly realized they had been tampered with. Donar is not elaborating on the types or number of fish involved but says anglers in the area will feel the impact. DNR fisheries researchers use the nets in the spring for catch-and-release surveys to monitor fish numbers and health. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Violator Hotline at 800-TIP-WDNR.

Fall River Superintendent On Referenda

4/23/12 - Fall River Schools’ Superintendent Jeff Tortomasi said he was very pleased to have voters approve referendum question number one asking for mechanical upgrades and technology improvements. Meetings between School officials and the contractor are underway aiming for project completion by the end of summer. Question # 2 asking for money to develop an outdoor athletic facility did not pass. Two properties on Fall River’s northwest side are being considered as possible Athletic Facility sites for voter approval.

Beaver Dam Summer Guide on Door Steps Today

4/23/12 - The 2012 Beaver Dam Community Activities and Services Summer Guide arrives on all city doorsteps Monday. The guide details all recreational activities, and includes club and sports schedules, lesson times, registration information and related costs. There is also a schedule of community events, the line-up for the “Concert in the Park” series, a complete list of park amenities and shelter and equipment rental costs, beach information and boat launch fees. Senior Center programs and activities are also included. The Summer Guide will be wrapped in the free Daily Citizen Shopper that is delivered to all Beaver Dam addresses and can also be obtained online or at the Senior Center and Recreation Building on East Third Street.

Top Stories, April 22nd

Horicon Man Apprehended In Squad Car Hit & Run

4/22/12 - A Horicon man is in custody in connection with a Hit & Run accident with a squad car that injured a Juneau police officer. It all started around 11pm Saturday night while Officer Brittany Borchardt was parked on the side of West Oak Street at South Fairfield Road. A 2000 Ford Explorer reportedly operated by 41-year-old Chad Buelter struck the rear of the squad car. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says the suspect stumbled out of his vehicle and quickly fled the scene. The departments K9 unit tracked the suspect’s scent until 3am Sunday morning when it was lost in a marshy area. Buelter was later taken into custody around 7am. Nehls says at that time, a preliminary breath test determined Buelter’s blood alcohol level to be point-zero-two (.02). Officer Borchardt sustained minor injuries. The three other occupants of the Explorer were not injured in the crash. One passenger was cited for Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. The accident is under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriffs Department Crash Investigation Team. Buelter could be charged as early as Monday with Hit and Run Causing Injury and Leaving The Scene of An Accident.

Fond du Lac Officer Focus of Documentary

4/22/12 - Fond du Lac Police Officer Ryan Williams and his K-9 partner Grendel will be among the heroic police officers focused on in a documentary that will in part be filmed in Fond du Lac. Bill Erfurth is a retired Miami-Dade Police Officer and producer of the documentary Heroes Behind the Badge. A film crew will be in Fond du Lac May 4th and 5th to film a segment about Williams, Grendel and Officer Craig Birkholz. Birkholz was shot and killed responding to a sexual assault complaint on March 20th of last year and Williams and Grendel critically wounded. Erfurth says Fond du Lac residents are invited to get in on the filming during a segment that will be filmed at the Police and Fire Memorial site in Hamilton Park. Williams will also be filmed at the Nation’s Capitol next month when he’s honored as one of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Officers of the Month. Half of the proceeds from the documentary will benefit the national memorial. Erfurth says they are still shopping the documentary around, but hope it will air on one of the cable networks in the fall. More information at: http://www.heroesbehindthebadge.com/

Van Hollen on Concealed Carry

4/22/12 - The state’s attorney general says he’s not sure if Wisconsin is any safer, now that 100-thousand people are allowed to carry concealed weapons. But J-B Van Hollen says there have been no problems since the concealed carry law took effect almost six months ago. And if it’s done anything to reduce crime, Van Hollen says it’s all the better. The A-G held a news conference in Madison, where the 100-thousandth state permit was being printed. He’s not sure who will receive it. Van Hollen has Permit Number-One. Wisconsin hit the 100-thousand mark faster than expected. The Justice Department expected around 125-thousand permits to be issued in the first year. Officials said the early rush of applications has slowed from thousands-a-day to hundreds-a-day. And there’s only been one heavily-publicized incident directly related to concealed carry. That was the Aldi’s shooting in Milwaukee in January, where a shopper with a concealed carry permit shot at two men who tried-but-failed to rob the place. The store had a sign prohibiting concealed weapons – but prosecutors decided not to charge the shooter.

Milwaukee Women Suing Over Tainted Tuna

4/22/12 - Two Milwaukee area women are suing a tuna-maker that was blamed for a national outbreak of salmonella. Attorney Ron Simon said he filed suit this week on behalf of 33-year-old Amber Azzolina of West Allis and 22-year-old Amy Karfonta of Muskego. Both are seeking unspecified damages after getting sick from eating a product used in making sushi and sashimi. The defendant is Moon Marine U-S-A. It has recalled 59-thousand pounds of a frozen raw yellow-fin tuna that’s linked to salmonella poisoning. About 120 people were sickened around the country, including 14 in southeast Wisconsin. Simon said his two clients got sick from food they ate at the same restaurant in Brookfield in February.

UW Ending Nursing Program

4/22/12 - Students will complete the course and no jobs will be lost, but the University of Wisconsin is going to end its nursing program at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. The final class will graduate in May of next year. The program is being ended due to state budget cuts and the small class sizes. They say the class size of two dozen students at Gundersen is too small to justify the cost of faculty and equipment which is needed to train nurses. UW-Madison and Gundersen will have operated in partnership on the program for eight years when it ends. More than 150 nursing students will have graduated.

Work Zone Awareness Week

4/22/12 - Orange construction barrels are a common site these days. This coming week, April 23 through 27, is Work Zone Awareness Week here in Wisconsin. Captain David Pabst with WisDOT’s Bureau of Transportation Safety stresses the dangers of not paying attention when driving through work zones. Pabst says there were more than 1,700 work zone crashes in Wisconsin last year resulting in eight deaths and nearly 750 injuries. While construction workers are vulnerable to drivers’ actions, about three out of four people killed in work zones are motorists. For the safety of everyone, Pabst says traffic fines are doubled in work zones and are strictly enforced. Work zones often have narrowed lanes, lane changes, temporary pavements, reduced speeds and night work. Captain Pabst says drivers need to slow down, allow extra room and always stay focus on what’s ahead of them.

Interstate 94 Reconstruction Begins Monday

4/22/12 - Motorists are being warned to expect delays on Interstate 94 east of Hudson starting tomorrow (Monday). Two miles of I-94 in Roberts will be reconstructed, reducing traffic to a single lane in east direction while work is being done near Wisconsin Highway 65. The 25 million dollar project should be finished by November 2013. Work on Highway 65 north of the Interstate will result in road closures and major delays can be expected to during peak travel times. That project carries a seven million dollar price tag.

Delegation Leaving To India

4/22/12 - A 12-member delegation from Milwaukee leaves on a trade mission to India today (Sunday) to promote made-in-Wisconsin water technology. With a population topping a billion people, India is one of the fastest-growing markets for systems which clean and conserve water supplies. Nearly 130 million people in that country live without access to safe water. The delegation will start the eight day visit in New Delhi. Wisconsin companies are looking for customers for water supply improvement, rainwater capture and municipal waste treatment.

Dolan Named As Top 100 Most Influential People

4/22/12 - Cardinal Tim Dolan, a former Catholic Archbishop in Milwaukee, was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people. Dolan has headed the Archdiocese of New York for almost three years. And Time said Dolan has done what few other Catholic leaders have done in recent years – put his church back in the center of the national political conversation. Time was referring to Dolan’s battle with the Obama White House over health coverage for contraceptives. Dolan responded on his blog, quote, “The only influence I might have comes from faith, prayer, family, friends, and the ones I serve.” Dolan headed the ten-county Milwaukee Archdiocese, which includes Dodge County, from 2002-to-’09. He’ll return in nine days for a Mass-of-Thanksgiving, which recognizes his elevation to cardinal a few weeks ago.