Top Stories February 7th

Warmer Temps Could Lead to Flooding

2/7/09 - We may all be pining for warmer temperatures right now but a combination of mid-40’s and rain early next week could cause high water levels and possible flooding on area rivers and streams. The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook beginning this morning through next Thursday. The statement reads “the combination of runoff from snow melt with warm temperatures this weekend and early next week, along with moderate rain Monday into Monday night, will cause a rise in area rivers and streams.” There's a good chance of rain totaling up to a half-inch on Monday. The rise in water levels could also lead to the break-up of ice on rivers and streams, so if ice jams up under bridges, it could cause sudden flooding. The hazardous weather outlook is for 20 Wisconsin counties including Dodge, Jefferson, Columbia, and Fond du Lac.

FDL Make Arrest in 32-Year-Old Murder Case

2/7/09 - Fond du Lac police make an arrest in a 32-year-old murder case. Fifty-three year old Thomas Niesen of Ashwaubenon will face charges in connection with the death of Kathleen Leichtman in July 1976. Leichtman was a 19 year old go-go dancer for the strip club the Other Place. Her body was found in July of that year. She had been stabbed and her throat was slashed. Police Major Kevin Lemke says Niesen became a suspect last fall after the processing of some evidence from the case. Police Chief Tony Barthuly says solving the case will give Leichtman’s family, and the investigators who worked on it over the years, some closure.

State Handling Record Request for Jobless Benefits

2/7/09 - With unemployment at its highest in 17 years, Wisconsin officials say they’re doing all they can to keep up with record requests for jobless benefits. The state has hired 83 more people, and re-assigned other agency workers, to handle a 67-percent increase in unemployment applications from a year ago. Workforce Development secretary Roberta Gassman says she knows it’s hard for somebody to be patient in this situation. But she’s asking applicants who face long delays or lose their phone connections to understand – and she vows that every claim will be responded to. Gassman made her comments today, after the U-S Labor Department reported a seven-point-six percent unemployment rate for January. Almost 600-thousand jobs were cut nationally last month. Three-point-six million jobs have been lost since the recession began 15 months ago – and half those reductions came in the last three months.

32nd Infantry Brigade Sendoff

2/7/09 - Farewell ceremonies are being held throughout Wisconsin, as over three-thousand National Guard troops get ready to go to Iraq. In Green Bay Thursday, Packers’ president Mark Murphy and three players joined friends-and-relatives in sending off 132 members of the Red Arrow Brigade. Mason Crosby, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson were among those attending a ceremony in the Lambeau Field atrium. Crosby, the Packers’ kicker, said it was an honor to meet some of the men-and-women who fight for our freedom. The unit gave Murphy an award for the Packers’ support. A similar sendoff took place in Waupun as well. The 32nd Infantry Brigade has 36 locations throughout Wisconsin. The troops will start training at Fort Bliss in Texas this month, before spending 10 months in Iraq. It’s the largest Wisconsin National Guard deployment since World War Two. About half the Green Bay unit had served in Iraq in 2005.

Abortion Rights Group Happy with Decision

2/7/09 - The head of an abortion rights group applauds the decision to offer second trimester abortions in Madison. Lisa Subeck, Executive Director of NARAL Pro Choice Wisconsin, says it's important for the procedure to continue to be offered in Madison, where the only doctor offering the procedure is retiring soon. Subeck says the unanimous vote of approval is significant. She says it shows the board of the Madison Surgery Center knows what’s right from a health care prospective for women. Abortions will be offered for women who are up to twenty-two weeks pregnant. Pro-life groups vow to demonstrate outside the clinic.

Newly Appointed Chiefs Attend Training

2/7/09 - A number of area police chiefs participated in training put on the by the Wisconsin Department of Justice recently. Among the 28 newly appointed chiefs included Interim Chief Dennis Weiner of Columbus, Chief Daniel Link of the Hustisford Police Department and Chief Tim Roets of the Watertown Police Department. Topics covered during the week long training seminar were leadership, budgeting, recruitment and labor relations. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen spent some time with the group during the week and briefed them on the state and federal resources available to assist local law enforcement agencies. Van Hollen said quote “I was pleased to spend some time during the week with each of these new law enforcement leaders as they prepare to not only fight crime but to lead. They have my commitment to be their partner as they do both.”

Mock Trial Tournament in Dodge County

2/7/09 - Seven high schools are competing in a mock trial tournament setting at the Dodge County Courthouse today. Eighty Wisconsin high schools are gathering across the state as part of the 26th Annual Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin. The top 12 teams advance to statewide competition in Madison on March 15th and 16th with the first place winner representing the state in the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia in May. The seven teams competing at the Justice Center in Juneau are from Beaver Dam, Dodgeland, Hustisford, Kewaskum, Lodi, Mayville and Watertown High Schools. (Bob Nelson, KFIZ)

18-year-old Student Facing Blackmail Charges

2/7/09 - A prosecutor says he’ll try to keep victims from having to testify against a former student charged with blackmailing boys for sex. Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel says there’s probably enough evidence on Anthony Stancl’s computer to convict him. The 18-year-old Stancl is accused posing as a girl on a Facebook Web site – convincing boys to send him nude pictures – and then blackmailing some of them, forcing at least seven boys to have sex with him. At least 31 of Stancl’s former classmates at New Berlin Eisenhower High School have come forward. Authorities believe there were more victims, but nobody else has come forward since the case made national news yesterday. Schimel said the defendant’s computer had 300 photos and movie clips of the victims. A judge will decide February 26th if there’s enough evidence to order a trial.

The Return of Gas Tax Indexing?

2/7/09 - One group maintains transportation infrastructure would benefit from a return to gas tax indexing. Craig Thompson with Wisconsin's Transportation Development Association says there were several factors behind the decision to end indexing three years ago. Thompson says there was an erosion of the public’s trust that all dollars from the gas tax were going back into the transportation system. There's a problem, though, with not having the income generated by indexing and it’s happened before. Thompson says the infrastructure was allowed to crumble during the 1970s, meaning the gas tax had to be bumped 11 cents in the 80s. The governor is expected to call for a return of gas tax indexing in his state budget.

Dairy Settles Complaint with DNR

2/7/09 - A northeast Wisconsin dairy has agreed to pay 46-thousand-dollars to settle a state water pollution complaint. The state Justice Department announced the settlement today involving the United Meadows Dairy of Wrightstown. The D-N-R said the dairy’s manure pit twice went over its top in 2005 – and it also spilled in 2007. As a result, tens-of-thousands of gallons of liquid manure spilled into Apple Creek and the Fox River. The settlement also requires the dairy to upgrade its manure pit, loading platform, liquid waste collection, and feed storage area. The United Meadows Dairy has about 525 cows.

Top Stories February 6th

Cuts & Referendum for Horicon School District

2/6/09 - The Horicon School District will be taking a two-prong approach to balance a projected $636,000 deficit in next year’s budget. The school board voted in special session last night to make $343,000 in cuts and ask voters to approve a $300,000 referendum on the April ballot. The cuts include five layoffs, but that does NOT include full-time teaching positions, so class sizes would not change. That is unless, of course, the referendum fails. Board Chairman Doug Glamann says that’s when the really deep cuts would have to be made.

David Westimayer was the only board member to vote against the plan because he says the referendum doesn’t go far enough. Westimayer also says because of school choice the district will lose money from per pupil state reimbursements over the long run as more students chose other districts with better program offerings. While the vote was not unanimous, all were in agreement that these cuts will only solve next year’s problems and the board will face the same issues at this same time next year. If approved, the referendum would add $32.58 onto the tax bill of a property valued at $100,000. The wording of the referendum will be ironed out at the school board’s next regular meeting.

Cuts in the Horicon School District for the 2009-2010 school year:
- eliminate the late bus
- eliminate K-12 reading specialist / homeless liaison
- reduction in staff development funds
- reduction in supply purchases by 10%
- freeze administration salaries
- elimination of national convention expenses
- work with teachers union for salary and benefits savings or any other concessions
- consolidation of sports including the possible elimination of freshman-level sports
- food service outsourcing
- elimination of special education students going to alternative schools by providing services in-house with hiring additional teacher
- cut one of two library positions
- eliminate part-time art aide
- eliminate tech support position
- consolidate middle school consumer education program with high school by eliminating one part-time position

Five Months For Day

2/6/09 - A former Town of Chester treasurer has been sentenced to five months in jail for withholding payment of her personal property taxes. Rebecca Day pleaded no contest in November to an amended felony charge of misconduct in office and had four other charges dismissed but read into the record. The 38-year-old Waupun woman served as Town of Chester treasurer for approximately eight years and was responsible for accepting property tax payments and documenting those payments. During an audit of the town’s finances, an accounting firm discovered that Day recorded payment of property taxes for her own residence in the Town of Chester without actually making a payment to the township. The offenses took place every year between 2002 and 2006. Day began to pay some of the money back to the town, but a discrepancy remained by the time her accounting was discovered. In addition to five months in jail, with Huber privileges, Day was also placed on probation for three years, ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution and must write a letter of apology.

FFRF Would Protest Pre-Meeting Prayers

2/6/09- The Freedom From Religion Foundation says they will protest any efforts by the Dodge County Board to hold a prayer before their meetings, even if the prayer is held before the meeting is called to order. On Wednesday, Dodge County Corporation Counsel John Corey told us the best way to avoid any legal issues would be for board members to hold a prayer before the meet starts. But the Foundation’s Anne Laurie Gaylor says her group would also find that unacceptable. Gaylor says those who don’t want to pray would have be the ones who stay outside until right before the meeting starts and risk being late for the roll call.

Pastor Urges Tolerance

2/06/09 - A Beaver Dam pastor says more tolerance is needed in holding prayers before municipal meetings. Pastor Mark Swanson of the Trinity United Methodist Church says “for years Christians have been asked to be tolerant of diversity, but now that tolerance has been extended to a diverse group of people, both religious and non-religious, they seem to be willing to turn around and say we’re not going to be tolerant of you.” Swanson also says that America is a country founded on Christian principals and we would not have the laws we have if we did not have a history of being a decidedly Christian nation.

BDMS Teacher Will Be Back

2/6/09 - A Beaver Dam Middle School teacher is on administrative leave after a photo of her appeared on the social networking website Facebook with a rifle trained on the camera. Betsy Ramsdale, an English Language Learner teacher, is not currently in the classroom after a colleague reported the photo to district administrators. Superintendent Don Childs says they are investigating the photo but he fully expects her to return to work next week. In an email to a Madison T-V station Ramsdale said she removed the photo immediately and that she is not "interested in any controversy."

Gas Line Cut in Waupun

2/6/09 - About 20 homes on the south side of Waupun had to be evacuated after city utility workers accidentally severed a gas line yesterday. No one was hurt in the incident that happened in the Wilcox Court area. Authorities say a utility crew was digging for an underground water pipe that was leaking. Markers for the gas line were improperly placed and workers severed a two-inch gas main. (Bob Nelson, KFIZ)

Dalle Nogare Sentenced for Killing Goose

2/6/09 - An 18-year-old Brownsville man was sentenced in Dodge County court this week for using his car to run over and kill a goose in the Horicon National Wildlife area. Patrick Dalle Nogare was placed on two years probation and will have to perform 30 hours of community service with a humane society or other facility that provides care for animals. A mistreatment charge was brought stemming from an incident last July. (Bob Nelson, KFIZ)

Investigation into Andy’s Roofing Wrapping Up

2/6/09 - Residents have 10 more days to file formal complaints against a local company that is accused of defrauding more than 100 customers. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says they are nearing the completion of their investigation into the business practices of Andy’s Roofing in Juneau. So far, the Sheriff’s Department has received about 88-calls from people who have gone on to file complaints. Sheriff Todd Nehls says quote “There are hundreds of thousands of dollars involved here and we want to make sure we have everybody’s report.” Nehls says if you have contacted your local police department or the Sheriff’s Department you’ll be contacted by the Dodge County District Attorney’s Office in the next several weeks. The Sheriff’s Dept. is also working with adjacent counties that are home to several victims as well. If you still need to file Nehls says you should call your local law enforcement agency.

Traffic Deaths Down in January

2/6/09 - Wisconsin is off to a relatively safe start. According to preliminary data from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, traffic crashes in January claimed 36 lives. That’s among the safest Januaries on record and is down 13 from January of last year and down 20 from the five-year average. Last month was the 16th month out of the last 17 that had fewer traffic crashes than the comparable month from a year earlier. In Dodge County, two people were killed in traffic crashes in the month of January.

Farewell Ceremonies for National Guard Troops

2/6/09 - Farewell ceremonies are being held throughout Wisconsin, as over three-thousand National Guard troops get ready to go to Iraq. In Green Bay yesterday, Packers’ president Mark Murphy and three players joined friends-and-relatives in sending off 132 members of the Red Arrow Brigade. Mason Crosby, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson were among those attending a ceremony in the Lambeau Field atrium. Crosby, the Packers’ kicker, said it was an honor to meet some of the men-and-women who fight for our freedom. The unit gave Murphy an award for the Packers’ support. The 32nd Infantry Brigade has 36 locations throughout Wisconsin. The troops will start training at Fort Bliss in Texas this month, before spending 10 months in Iraq. It’s the largest Wisconsin National Guard deployment since World War Two. About half the Green Bay unit had served in Iraq in 2005.

Alfalfa Sprouts Being Recalled

2/6/09 - Alfalfa sprouts made in western Wisconsin are being recalled. Salmonella bacteria turned up in routine safety tests for a mix made by Jack and the Green Sprouts of River Falls. State agriculture officials said five-ounce clam-shell packages of alfalfa sprouts and alfalfa onion sprout mix have been recalled from grocery stores in Wisconsin and Minnesota. No illnesses have been reported – and officials say this has nothing to do with the recent salmonella outbreak from peanut butter products. If you have the affected sprouts, officials say you should throw them out – and if you have a store receipt, you can get a refund.

Senate Still Working to Pass Stimulus Package

2/6/09 - Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold failed to put a future ban on pork-barrel spending in the Senate’s version of the economic stimulus package. It was voted down 65-to-32 yesterday. Wisconsin’s other senator, Democrat Herb Kohl, voted no. Feingold called it disappointing, but he said he would keep rallying against so-called earmarks – the pet projects added to spending bills which a president cannot veto individually. Feingold said many of his colleagues flip-flopped on their campaign promises to end the earmarking practice. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Feingold’s effort “foolish.” Meanwhile, last-minute negotiations continued overnight to reduce the size of the economic stimulus package – which is now getting close to a trillion dollars. The talks were designed to win votes from those who said the package was too large, and would not do enough to stimulate the economy. 90-billion-dollars in cuts were being considered. Reid said he would give the negotiators one more day. A final vote on the plan is still set for today. But Reid says he might call a rare Sunday session if the negotiations look promising. On the Senate floor yesterday, Kohl said he supported the stimulus package despite what he called its “enormous” price tag. Kohl is trying to add 30-million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, which gives technology advice to small-to-medium-sized factories.

Campaign Finance Reform a Possibility in State Assembly

2/6/09 - A state watchdog group says a move to ban in the Assembly on campaign fund raising could hopefully lead to more reforms. Assembly leadership on Wednesday approved a rule banning lawmakers from trying to raise campaign cash while working on the state budget. Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says it's a good first step that sets a higher standard for the upcoming budget negotiations. Now, McCabe says lawmakers need to take it to the next level and pass legislation that would make a similar prohibition apply to both houses of the Legislature and the Governor. Assembly Republican leaders voted for the rule, but argued it's just a feel good move because it doesn't provide any real penalties for violations.

Top Stories February 5th

Woman Injured after Hitting Train

2/5/09 - A 41-year-old woman was seriously injured after hitting a train at the railroad crossing on Highway 151 near the Highway 26 overpass in the Town of Chester. Dodge County Sheriffs Sergeant Dave Weninger says Jacquelyn Buelow was driving south on Hwy. 151 when she hit the last of 12-cars on the train just after 8:30 last night. Buelow was trapped in her car after the collision. Once out she was taken to the hospital and eventually flown by Flight for Life to UW-Hospital in Madison. Her condition is unknown. Weninger says alcohol was a factor in the crash and authorities issued the Buelow citations for O-W-I 4th offense and Operating after Revocation. Buelow was not wearing her seat belt.

No Place for Threats in Prayer Debate

2/5/09 - Threats have reportedly been made against Dodge County Board Supervisor Dean Fuller, whose actions led to the current rethinking of prayers before meetings. Those on both sides of the issue are condemning those threats. Anne Laurie Gaylor of the Freedom From Religion Foundation says threats are “not playing nice” and shows how divisive religion is in government and demonstrates why it doesn’t belong. One area pastor we spoke - Pastor Mark Swanson of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Beaver Dam – does believe there should be prayers before meetings but he condemned the threats against Fuller calling them “completely inappropriate.” Swanson says such threats are “not a Christian response” and he would “not claim that person as being part of the Christian community.”

As for the legal aspect of prayer before government meetings, Dodge County’s Corporation Council says it is constitutional as long as a number of guidelines are followed. Attorney John Corey says those include not mentioning one religion over another. The question of prayer at meetings has come to the attention of the public after Supervisor Fuller filed a complaint with the Freedom From Religion Foundation claiming Dodge County had allowed a Supervisor to mention Jesus Christ and Christianity during prayer, which they claim is unconstitutional. Corey says a way to avoid any issues would be to hold a prayer before a meeting starts. The board was scheduled to have a time of silent contemplation during their February meeting so nothing will change this month. However, there is no word on what might be done before their meeting in March.

We’ll be looking at the issue of prayers before municipal meetings on WBEV’s Community Comment on Tuesday, February 17. We have invited, or will invite, representatives from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, local churches and the county board to discuss the matter.

Fox Lake Council Waives Fine

2/5/09 - The contractor who oversaw the rebuilding of the Highway P culvert just south of Highway 33 in Fox Lake will not be fined for completing the project two weeks late. That’s after the City Council approved a motion last night to waive the nearly $6,000 in fines on the condition that the town board passes a similar motion next week. The contractor, Kinas and Koplan, had set a completion date of November 30th but did not complete the project until the middle of December. Under the contract entered into with the city and town they were eligible to receive fines of $400 for every day over the deadline. However, in his recommendation to the council last night, City Administrator Bill Petracek said in the engineering company’s opinion the timeline was an aggressive one and when they factored in the weather and availability of materials they felt waiving the fine would be the best course of action. The culvert under Highway P/Trenton Street had been closed since June 14th after it washed out during the massive flooding in the area.

Digital Conversion Switch Delayed

2/5/09 - It’s a good thing the vote to delay the switch to digital television yesterday didn’t come down to one vote because Congressman Tom Petri accidentally voted against the measure. The Republican from Fond du Lac says he must have pushed the wrong button on the voting equipment. He says his position is clear: he voted for the delay when it came up last week and he has gone on record as having meant to vote ‘yes’ yesterday. The boxes cost around $60, and the government has set up a program to distribute $40 coupons to help consumers with the cost. But there are still millions of households waiting to get their coupons - 4,000 in Petri’s district alone. The congressman says its clear that we need to provide more time so “people won't suddenly find that their TV sets have gone blank."

Columbus Holds Mayoral Debate

2/5/09 - The four City of Columbus Mayoral candidates debated for nearly two hours in front of a packed Senior Center crowd last night. Former Mayor Peter Kaland, former School Board member and Recreation Committee leader Bob Link, Current Mayor Nancy Osterhaus and former Mayor Art Westergaard Jr. answered prepared questions for almost two hours. Columbus is unique in having two former Mayors, one incumbent Mayor and one former City Council member running on the Feb. 17th primary ballot.

Columbus Gets Money for Flood Damages

2/5/09 - The City of Columbus has finally received the bulk of the money that it will be paid for damages incurred during the June, 2008 flood. Reviews between FEMA, the Wisconsin Department of Emergency Management and City officials finally resulted in payments of nearly $155 thousand dollars to the City over the past week. The amount was about 28 percent of the $554 thousand requested by City claims. City Clerk Anne Donahue said that flood relief money for the repair of the Dam was NOT approved in the payments.

Boy Falls from Ski Lift in Oconomowoc

2/5/09 - A 10-year-old boy survived after he fell 30-feet from a chair on a ski-lift in Oconomowoc. Police said the boy was unconscious right after he fell at the Highlands of Olympia ski hill around 5:30 last evening. He was later in stable condition at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital with a broken arm. Police Chief Dave Beghun said it did not appear that the ski-lift malfunctioned – but investigators are still trying to figure out why the incident occurred.

Board Aprroves 2nd Trimester Abortions

2/5/09 - After hearing three hours of emotional comments on both sides, a U-W Hospital board agreed to allow late-term abortions at a Madison outpatient clinic. The vote was 11-to-3 yesterday to provide abortions for women who are 19-to-22-weeks’ pregnant. The U-W and Meriter Hospital had proposed the idea after a Madison doctor who had performed such abortions retired in December. No one else in the city does those procedures. Board chairman David Walsh called the second-trimester abortions “the worst kind of service” among those who believe life starts at conception. But he said women have a constitutional right to those abortions – and a great, full-service institution should do it if no one else will. Walsh said the chance of a public backlash was worth the risk. Opponents said they would boycott U-W Hospital, and stage demonstrations outside the clinic. Doctors expected to perform about 120 abortions at the Madison Surgery Center each year. That center’s board could act on the plan by the end of the week. But officials said it could still take weeks or months for the procedures to begin.

Less Money Coming to Wisconsin in Senate Version Stimulus Bill

2/5/09 - The Democratic Policy Committee says Wisconsin schools and governments would get less under the Senate’s economic stimulus bill than the House version. The agency said the Badger State would get three-point-one billion-dollars from the Senate package, compared to four-point-three billion in the House plan. But the Senate’s proposal includes more benefits for individuals – including a tax credit of up to 15-thousand-dollars for anyone who buys a new home. Yesterday, Wisconsin’s Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold joined other Democrats who fought off efforts to reduce the size of the stimulus package. The home-buying credit increased it to around 920-billion-dollars – or 100-billion more than what the House okayed a week ago. Among other things, Kohl and Feingold helped Democrats preserve a “Buy American” provision that requires stimulus projects to use domestic iron-and-steel. But after Obama expressed concerns, the Senate modified the requirement to make sure that U-S trade agreements are not violated. Final Senate action on the stimulus plan could come as early as tomorrow. Then a conference committee would hammer out the final package.

Top Stories February 4th

No Udey Dam Referendum in Columbus

2/4/09 - The Columbus Council voted 4 to 1 last night NOT to bring the question on whether to “repair or remove” the Udey Dam to a voters’ referendum in April. The Council voted last year to REPAIR the Dam. However, the plans to begin the process stalled when the Crawfish River flooded in June. City Administrator Boyd Kraemer said the estimated $600 thousand dollars for the Dam’s repair would have to come from bonding since requests for funding from FEMA, the Wisconsin Dept. of Emergency Management and State Representative Tammy Baldwin’s office are not likely.

$7 Million Expansion at Richelieu

2/4/09 - At a time when a lot of businesses are downsizing, Richelieu Foods in Beaver Dam is undertaking a $7 million expansion. General Manager Jim Campbell says the food maker is in the process of adding a fourth pizza line. Campbell the expansion comes at the same time the company is closing down its salad line so there will not be a lot of new positions added, but several current employees who were getting fewer and fewer hours will go back to working full time. If all goes according to schedule, Campbell says they will begin their new production line on March 23. The plant has expanded its personnel numbers considerably in recent years. In 2004, the plant had 170 employees. Currently there are 330 full-time workers on the payroll. While Campbell could not provide specific names, he says the company produces private label pizza brands, many of which can be found at stores in Beaver Dam.

Demerit System Taking Shape

2/4/09 - Members of an ad hoc committee assembled to consider the implementation of a demerit point system for bars in Beaver Dam are heavily basing their version on one currently in-place in Waupun. Under the plan, demerits would be given to bars for such violations as serving minors, excessive noise or failing to cooperate with public safety officials. Taverns in violation could have their license suspended or revoked. Committee member Don Neuert says while they are using the Waupun model as a starting point, the committee is currently talking about giving bar owners more leeway than the Waupun model IF the establishment reports problems – like fights -- to authorities immediately. Director of Administration John Somers is creating a sample version for Beaver Dam, based on the Waupun model, and it will be reviewed at their meeting on February 20. After that, Neuert says they will sit down with bar owners and members of the Tavern League of Wisconsin. Neuert says they plan to have a resolution in place for council consideration before new tavern licenses go in effect on July 1.

New Ambulance For BDFD

2/4/09 - The Beaver Dam Fire Department could soon be getting a new ambulance. Interim Fire Chief Randy Koehn says the department currently has three ambulances but the one used for the city’s new interfacility transport program is 16 years old and becoming less dependable. The new purchase had been included in the city’s 2009 Capital Improvements Plan but was bumped to 2010 along with everything else in favor of the city’s downtown redevelopment plan. Koehn told city officials this week that the revenue generated from the interfacility program – nearly $100,000 in its first full year last year – justifies the added expenditure. The cost of a new ambulance, fully-equipped, is estimated at $143,000. The common council will consider the expenditure at their February 16 meeting.

Mobile Home Fire in Calamus

2/4/09 - The Beaver Dam Fire Department responded to a small fire at a mobile home in the Town of Calamus yesterday morning. The call came at 11:45am to the Lakeside Mobile Home Park on County Road G. Interim Fire Chief Randy Koehn says heat tape – used to insulate water pipes under the mobile home – shorted out and ignited the underside of the floor. Koehn (keen) says it could have been much worse but the owner came home early, smelled smoke and called immediately. Firefighters were on the scene for about a half hour.

Sex Offender Meeting Tonight

2/4/09 - A public notification meeting will be held tonight to inform residents in the Mayville area about a convicted sex offender that will be released back into the community. David K. Schraufnagel will be released from prison next Tuesday and plans to reside at N10317 Dairy Road in the Town of Leroy. The 49-year-old will be under 24-hour electronic monitoring. He is prohibited from having contact with his victims, or unsupervised contact with minors and cannot enter bars, taverns or liquor stores. Authorities say any violations should be reported to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department but they remind the public that Schraufnagel has served his sentence, is not wanted by law enforcement and any attempts to threaten, intimidate or harass him will not be tolerated. Schraufnagel was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in 2004 on sexual assault charges for inappropriately touching two teenage girls while volunteering in the Mayville School District. The public notification meeting begins at 6:30pm at Mayville City Hall.

Dodgeland Hires Search Firm for Administrator

2/4/09 - The Dodgeland School District has hired Fox River Consultants to handle their search for a new Superintendent after the school board accepted the resignation of Administrator Ron Vaughn last week. It will be the fourth time the district has used the firm. Fox River Consultants Al Rosenthal has been working as interim administrator and will continue to do so until a new one is found. The district has authorized Fox River to spend no more than 15-hundred dollars plus expenses in attempting to find a new administrator.

Sides Differ on Possible Stimulus Results

2/4/09 - The White House says the proposed economic stimulus package would create 74-thousand jobs in Wisconsin. But House Republican Paul Ryan of Janesville questions that figure. He says most of the spending in the nearly 900-billion-dollar package won’t stimulate the economy – and anything that does would be quote, “very slow and very small.” President Obama disputes that. And he took to the major television networks yesterday to rally support for the package. Senate Republicans killed an effort to add 25-billion for more highway, transit, and water projects. Wisconsin Democrats Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold both voted in favor of that money. Feingold said any amendments must stimulate the economy – otherwise, they should be paid for with cuts elsewhere. A final Senate vote on the package is expected tomorrow.

Kuenzi Denied Reduced Bond

2/4/09 - One of three snowmobilers accused in the so-called “thrill killings” of five deer near Waupaca failed to get his bond reduced yesterday. Circuit Judge Philip Kirk said 24-year-old Rori Kuenzi of Weyauwega was probably safer in jail, because he was named in several threats in letters the court received. Kuenzi is being held on a 25-thousand-dollar cash bond. He pleaded innocent yesterday to six charges of mistreating animals in death, theft, and vehicle theft. Authorities said Kuenzi was riding a stolen snowmobile when he and two other riders herded and killed deer with their machines on a trail January ninth. Landowners, animal rights activists, and friends of traffic victim Kevin McCoy attended yesterday’s hearing. Kuenzi is a suspect in a hit-and-run traffic death that killed McCoy in 2004. Attorneys in his deer case will meet with the judge on March 11th to determine where things go from here.

Six Hurt in Oak Creek Explosion

2/4/09 - A 22-year-old man was in critical condition at last word, after more than half his body was burned in a power plant explosion near Milwaukee. Six people were hurt in yesterday’s blast in a silo of coal-dust at the We Energies’ power plant in Oak Creek. They were working for a Waukesha company that set up scaffolding for a repair project at the silo, when something inside the structure caused the dust to explode. Federal safety officials were helping local authorities investigate. The workers’ names were not released. The most seriously injured was taken to the burn unit of Columbia-Saint Mary’s Hospital. The others were taken to another hospital with burns and minor smoke inhalation. Three were admitted in fair condition, and one was expected to stay overnight. The other two were released after their treatments. The power plant itself was not affected, and it kept operating. The U-S Chemical Safety Board said there have been at least two dozen coal dust explosions in the last 29 years. And the agency said the Occupational Safety-and-Health Administration has ignored several requests for tougher standards. OSHA (oh-shuh) said it has inspected We Energies’ facilities four times since 2002, with no violations. Its probe could take up to six months.

Top Stories February 3rd

Tension Filled Night in Waupun

2/3/09 - More than 40-years of emotions bubbled to surface last night in Waupun where a Fox Lake area citizen’s group laid out their reasons to the school board why Fox Lake and Alto Elementary should remain open, even if a referendum later this month were to fail. One of those reasons included the importance of having a school in a small community. The major theme of the night, however, was a perceived divide among Waupun students and those that come in from outside of the city. A number of Fox Lake community members spoke of how they feel like second class citizens when dealing with the school district. However, board members countered saying the wedge dividing the communities is not being driven by Waupun residents. Last night was most likely the last meeting to discuss the February 17th primary that will ask voters to pass three questions that includes one that would allow the district to exceed the revenue cap by a total of nearly $5-million over three years to allow the district to continue operating a number of buildings as they currently do. If the referendum were not to pass District Administrator Randy Refsland says his recommendation will be to close Fox Lake and Alto Elementary.

No Prayer at DC Board of Supervisor Meetings

2/3/09 - The Dodge County Board of Supervisors will not be saying a prayer at the beginning of each of their meetings for a while. That’s after District 29 Supervisor Dean Fuller filed a complaint with the Freedom From Religion Foundation about prayers referencing Christianity and Jesus Christ being performed at five meetings over the past year. In a letter addressed to Board Chairman Russ Kottke, the F-F-R-F states that the practice is unconstitutional as it is a violation of the separation of church and state. It goes on to state the prayers led by Supervisor Randy Grebel during an official government meeting, open to the public, demonstrates the County’s preference for Christianity and illegally promotes religion over non-religion. During yesterday’s Executive Committee session a number of supervisors expressed their disagreement with Fullers decision to file the complaint, and Supervisor Dave Frohling says he doesn’t believe Fuller is acting on his constituent’s behalf. Dodge County Administrator Jim Mielke and Corporate Council John Corey will be looking into their options before the next board meeting later this month.

DNR Issues ER Notice of Violation

2/3/09 - The owner of the Fountain Inn in Beaver Dam has been issued a “Notice of Violation” from the Wisconsin DNR. The tavern at 203 Front Street, formerly known as Emotional Rescue, is one of eleven buildings constructed over the Beaver Dam River that is targeted by the city and the DNR for demolition because such structures are in violation of state statute. Jay Hoeft is the only property owner than has refused to sell and his building was recently placed on the State Historic Registry. The letter dated January 27 informs Hoeft that the Department has power to “impose a forfeiture” on a building infringing on the public rights related to navigable waters. The letter states that the DNR is aware that the building was recently placed on the State Historic Registry and “will comply with the historic registry processes in seeking enforcement.” The DNR’s next step is to request a referral to the Department of Justice requesting court ordered removal of the building with the cost of demolition paid for by the property owner. Hoeft had no reaction to the letter but tells us he will sit down with the DNR next week regarding the matter. Mayor Tom Kennedy provided the council with copies of the letter during an update on the redevelopment plan at last night’s city council meeting. Both Kennedy and Hoeft acknowledge that this process could be drawn out for years.

City Seeking Grants for Downtown Demolition

2/3/09 - The city of Beaver Dam is pursuing grant funding to help pay the costs of their downtown redevelopment project. Officials are hoping to secure a Community Development Block Grant to pay for part of the demolition costs of the ten buildings along Front and Center Streets sitting over the Beaver Dam River in violation of state statute. The Operations Committee last night signed-off on plans to use a $14,000 Waterfront Development Grant to hire a firm to update a 2007 Verbicher Associates downtown study. The update of the study would detail post-flood redevelopment efforts and would be vital in gaining grant approval. A local match would be required but city officials believe the purchase price of the ten downtown buildings would suffice.

City Mulls Stimulus Dollar Potential

2/3/09 - Members of the Beaver Dam Operations Committee discussed city projects that would be a priority if the state were to secure economic stimulus funds. With the governor setting up a new office in Madison, Engineering Coordinator Ritchie Piltz says now is the time to identify public works projects. Suggestions centered on the city’s Capital Improvements Plan and the many items that were delayed by one year as funding was diverted to the downtown redevelopment plan, including the reconstruction of Warren Street and Green Valley Road as well as the Jefferson School detention basin that is part of the Storm Water Utility project. At the top of the list was the police department / municipal building expansion project. Assemblyman Jeff Fitzgerald told the city its way too early to determine how much money, if any, the city would be eligible for and how it could be used.

Child Exchange Standoff

2/3/09 - A Fall River woman was taken to the Columbus Hospital Monday morning with possible chemical burns suffered during a child custody exchange gone wrong. Fall River Police Chief Brent Van Gysel responded to the 200 block Niehoff Lane just after 11am. The victim told Van Gysel that she went to her ex-boyfriend’s duplex to pick-up her 1-year-old and 3-year-old children. Nicholas Zingg allegedly answered the door with a big knife and after words were exchanged he closed the door and locked it with the kids still inside the residence. Authorities says Zingg ran upstairs, opened a window and dumped what he said was acid on the woman’s head saying ‘now your hair will fall out and your skin will burn.’ Van Gysel called for assistance and a Columbia County Sheriffs detective was able to talk Zingg into releasing the children, who were not harmed. A short time later, the detective was able to convince Zing to surrender. Zing was taken into custody without incident and is being held on arrest warrants from other jurisdictions. His ex-girlfriend was taken to the hospital for burning of the scalp and skin and was released a short time later. No word yet on what kind of liquid was involved.

Top Stories February 2nd

Columbus Man Killed in Snowmobile Accident

2/2/09 - A 38-year-old Columbus man was killed last evening in a snowmobile accident in Columbia County. The D-N-R said the rider failed to stop at a snowmobile crossing on Highway 60 near Columbus, and was hit by a car. It happened around six p-m. Authorities said alcohol was not a factor. The victim’s name was not immediately released. He was with another snowmobiler, who made it across the road just before the victim tried to cross. It’s the 17th snowmobile death in Wisconsin this winter. Officials said high speed was a factor in all but three-of-the-16 deaths before last evening.

Waupun School Board to Discuss Referenda

2/2/09 - A Fox Lake area citizen’s group will present their ideas to the Waupun School board tonight on how to prevent closing two elementary schools if a referendum question fails later this month. With the district facing a budget deficit of around $1-million for the 2009-2010 school year, the board voted to send three referendum questions to the public. That includes a question that would allow the district to exceed its revenue cap for three years and nearly $5-million to continue operating a number of schools as they currently do. District Administrator Randy Refsland has said that if the referendum were to fail, and no other logical and legal alternatives are brought forward, he will recommend closing Fox Lake and Alto Elementary. The board will meet tonight in the Middle School lecture hall at 7pm.

State Addicted to Spending says Policy Research Institute

2/2/09 - A conservative think tank says it’s the not the recession that put the next state budget five-and-three-quarter-billion dollars in the red. The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute blames an “addiction to spending” by both parties in Madison. According to a new report, the state spent more than its revenues in nine-of-the-last-10 years. And they’ve tried to make the average taxpayer think otherwise, by moving money into new accounts which give the impression that the state has lowered general spending. The research institute cites the cigarette tax as one example. It said the money from last year’s dollar-a-pack increase went into a “health care quality” fund, instead of the state’s general fund. Also, the group says both parties have used one-time money – like lawsuit proceeds – to pay for ongoing, permanent programs. And the institute says government has been “running on fumes” by not having enough of a surplus to cover emergencies.

Assembly to Vote on Campaign Reform

2/2/09 - The state Assembly’s Organization Committee is expected to act Wednesday to stop members from raising campaign money while the budget is debated. For years, lawmakers have held fund-raisers where special interests made donations, while budget items for their industries were still pending. Watchdogs say it gives the appearance of government-for-sale. Now, Democratic Majority Leader Tom Nelson says the proposed fund-raising ban at budget time is the most significant campaign reform in a generation. But it includes no penalties for violators – and it only affects individual members, and not the two parties’ fund-raising arms. Also, it would not apply to senators, who have shown no interest in changing the status quo.

First Farmer?

2/2/09 - She’s been chosen by America. Now, Claire Strader of Madison needs President Obama’s approval to become the first White House Farmer. Several groups have asked Obama to start an organic vegetable garden at the White House, as a symbol of going green. They have not gotten an answer – but it didn’t stop them from holding an Internet election for a proposed First Farmer. Strader got 16-percent of about 55-thousand votes. Carrie Ann Little of Washington State got 15-percent. Margaret Lloyd of Davis California took third with nine-percent. Will Allen – an urban farmer from Milwaukee – placed fourth, even though he said the job was not for him. But Strader says it’s for her. And if the White House approves the farm project, she’d be honored to run it.

Top Stories February 2nd

Udey Dam Vote on Tuesday

2/1/09 - The physical condition of the Udey Dam in Columbus has been a major source of a four-year debate. That argument could be leading to an April referendum on the dam even though the Council has already voted to repair. The state Department of Natural Resources has notified the City that the Dam on the Crawfish River has to be “repaired” or “removed.” Former Council Member George Jordan said this week that the $600 thousand dollar estimate to “repair” was well over the 2007 General Engineering $372 thousand dollar estimate received by the Udey Dam Ad Hoc Committee. City Administrator Boyd Kraemer responded to the questions on the condition of the dam with the City’s interpretation of the engineering reports. Next Tuesday the Common Council will be voting on whether there will be a referendum on the April ballot asking voters to decide whether to repair or remove the dam.

Duck Killer Fined

2/1/09 - A 33-year-old Fond du Lac man who turned himself into authorities in connection with the deaths of 57 mallard ducks faces five citations totaling nearly $2500. Officials with the state DNR hand-delivered the citations to the snowmobiler on Friday. The man reported his involvement to authorities after news reports began to circulate following the January 13 incident at the mouth of the Fond du Lac River. He was issued four snowmobile violation citations and one natural resource violation citations. No criminal charges will be filed and the DNR investigation has concluded the situation to be an accident. The man will pay $26.25 for each of the dead animals, which totals just under $1500.

Deer Killer Harassment Misdirected

2/1/09 - A Weyauwega says her family has received harassing phone calls and letters since three men were accused of using their snowmobiles to kill five deer. Two of the three men are brothers Rory and Robby Kuenzi, but Charlene Kuenzi says they're not her sons. One threatening letter was handed over to police and another message in the mail simply said, "Murderers." Charlene Kuenzi says she understands that people are angry about the deer killings, but she says she's worried about her family's safety.

Mistrial in Washington County Murder

2/1/09 - A Washington County judge declared a mistrial late Friday night when the jury told him agreement was impossible. Cordell Thompson is accused of killing his 86 year old father, Kenneth Cumiskey, a little over two years ago. The jury foreman told the judge 10 members thought Thompson was guilty, but two did not. Twelve hours of deliberations produced no verdict. Thompson is still charged with first-degree reckless homicide. Prosecutors say he beat his father to death.

Three Killed in Dunn County Plane Crash

2/1/09 - Officials in western Wisconsin plan to release the names of three people killed when a small plane went down in Dunn County. The four-seat single engine aircraft was registered to a couple in Houlton, Wisconsin. The plane's flight plan showed a departure from Sheboygan, with a destination of New Richmond. The plane crashed in a wooded field Friday. It had apparently been flown from New Richmond to Sheboygan earlier in the day -- and was headed home when it went down. The NTSB preliminary report is expected to take about a week.

Wisconsin Man Dies in Michigan Snowmobile Mishap

2/1/09 - A Wisconsin man dies when a half-dozen snowmobiles slam together in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The collision happened in Alger County, just outside Autrain Township yesterday morning. Michigan State Police report 42 year old Nicholas Waranka of Port Washington was the only fatality, though a man from Kansas is in ICU at a Marquette hospital. Troopers say the six were riding together when they all hit a snow embankment and lost control. Four more snowmobile riders from Wisconsin escaped unharmed.

Fitzgerald Champion of Commerce

2/1/09 - The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) has announced that Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has earned the Association’s “Champion of Commerce” award. The Republican from Juneau says his main priority this legislative session is to make it easier to do business in Wisconsin to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Fitzgerald says government must be a partner, not a hindrance. The Champion of Commerce award is given to lawmakers who earn an 80% or greater ranking on MMAC’s biennial Legislative Scorecard. The Scorecard tallies significant votes in priority areas identified by the association. MMAC President Tim Sheehy says Fitzgerald is an outstanding example of a leader working hard in Madison to keep Wisconsin’s economy competitive.

Republicans Criticize Stimulus Approach

2/1/09 - The governor's plans for oversight of federal stimulus funds are drawing some criticism. Wisconsin Republican party chair Mark Jefferson has some concerns about oversight. He says Wisconsin has a situation where two men who are not elected will have a lot of influence on how we spend hundreds of millions of dollars. Jefferson says he’s concerned about accountability for the Office of Recovery and Reinvestment, saying it could devolve into the "office of paybacks and pork." An effort by Assembly Republicans to create a panel of lawmakers to review and approve projects funded by money from a federal stimulus package has an uncertain future.

City Officials Chime in on Stimulus Funding

2/1/09 - City leaders say they are better-suited than the state to put federal economic stimulus funds to work. About 50 mayors and other local officials attended a meeting in Waukesha. Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett told them local governments can put the federal dollars to work very quickly. City leaders from as far away as Superior, Ashland and Green Bay attended the meeting in Waukesha. Congressman Tom Petri (pee TRY) told the group he wishes the stimulus package approved by the U.S. House did more to create the needed jobs.

Thinning The Herd

2/1/09 - Sharpshooters didn't hit much Friday night, trying to thin the deer herd in the Oshkosh area. They'd hoped to kill as many as 40. The hunters spent more than four hours in a wooded area around the Oshkosh National Guard armory. They killed just three deer. That venison will be donated to Oshkosh area food pantries. The effort may be repeated because many think the herd in that part of the state has grown too large.

Record-Setting Cranberry Harvest

2/1/09 - Wisconsin cranberry growers set another record last year with 4-point-3 million barrels. This state grows more than 55 percent of the nation's cranberries and farmers are being asked to produce even more. Worldwide demand is up. National production of cranberries topped 7-point-6 million barrels in 2008. Cranberry processors are asking Wisconsin farmers to plant an additional five thousand acres over the next five to 10 years to meet the world demand.