Top Stories March 9th

GKB Mourning Loss of Longtime Friend and Broadcaster

3/9/09 -The Good Karma Broadcasting family has very sad news to report today as we are mourning the loss of our long-time friend and fellow broadcaster, Jim Stowell. Jim passed away Saturday morning at his home surrounded by his family. Jim was born in Fort Atkinson in October of 1948. He served his country in Vietnam in the late 1960’s. Radio was his lifelong passion and he began his career over forty years ago, working at stations in Shawano, Madison, Portage, Poynette and Wisconsin Dells before being welcomed in Beaver Dam in 1986. His family says Jim loved to travel, enjoyed cooking and was an avid reader, both for his own pleasure and to prepare for his many on-air interviews.

Station Manager John Moser says, “The loss of Jim Stowell leaves a void that is impossible to fill, not just in terms of the hours he spent being a voice for our listeners but in the hearts and minds of all of those he touched every day with a cheerful laugh, seasoned insight and kind words. To say he will be missed does not remotely convey the deep sense of loss the Good Karma Broadcasting family is experiencing.”

Jim is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jackie Stowell, and two children: J. Thomas and Heidi. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 11th at Smith Funeral Home in Pardeeville, WI, between 4 and 8pm, and on Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Pardeeville, WI from 10:00am until the time of service. The funeral will be held Thursday morning at 11am at the church with full military rights presented by the Pardeeville American Legion and VFW Posts. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Jim’s name to the United Methodist Church in Pardeeville.

Storm Brings Rain, Ice, Snow

3/9/09 - Numerous runoffs and accidents were reported through the county during and after yesterday’s storm though none resulted in significant injuries. Ken Stock with Dodge County Highway Department says his crews were out fighting the conditions until about ten last night and back at it again by four-am with the biggest issue facing them being the ice underneath the snow. Storm totals are also starting to filter in. The National Weather Service says Beaver Dam picked up 4.5-inches of snow and a quarter-inch of ice. The heavy snow and ice resulted in a number of tree branches breaking under the weight. Ripon saw 7.1-inches of snow while Berlin got 6.4-inches. Our entire listening area is also under a High Wind Watch beginning tomorrow morning into Wednesday morning. Wind gusts of 60-mph are possible.

Storms Lead to Power Outages

3/9/09 - Sunday’s snow and ice storms led to several power outages in the area. Representatives with the Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative said there were a “large number of customers” affected for at least several hours. Officials with the Coop haven’t given any further details as of yet. Alliant Energy reported at 8pm last night that they had scattered and isolated outages that were all corrected in a short amount of time.

Three Injured in Wreck

3/9/09 - Three people were injured in a two-vehicle accident that occurred Saturday night in Dodge County. The Sheriffs Department says the wreck occurred just before 7pm in the Town of Theresa. Paul Stark of Portage was traveling westbound on Highway 28 when he struck a vehicle that was northbound on Highway 175. The 41-year-old Stark had to be cut from his vehicle. He was transported to St Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac along with his passenger, 60-year-old Susan Stark of Mayville. They were later transferred to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, along with the driver of the other vehicle, 61-year-old Joanne Wertz of Oshkosh. The crash remains under investigation but dense fog is considered to be a contributing factor.

Donovan Sentenced for Theft and Forgery

3/9/09 - A 23-year-old Waupun man will spend time in jail after being sentenced on charges of theft and forgery. Joseph Donovan was accused of passing stolen checks and will spend 90-days on the amended charges. According to the criminal complaint, a woman who Donovan was living with told police he had stolen checks from her home in Juneau last year. It was later revealed the checks had been made out to cash and signed by Donovan at a Waupun bank. Donovan later admitted to stealing and forging the checks. A Fond du Lac Judge also ordered Donovan to pay court fees and restitution.

Madison Diocese Looking for Funds

3/9/09 - Catholics in 11 south central Wisconsin counties will soon be asked to pay 84-percent more to their diocese. And for the first time, the Madison Diocese will use a direct-mail campaign to appeal to parishioners directly. It now uses a tax on parishes to raise three-point-two-million dollars a year. It wants to increase that amount to five-point-nine million, so it can care for the growing number of retired priests in the area, and train their replacements. The church tax will continue, but it will be reduced. John Philipp, the finance director for the Madison diocese, says the direct appeal will give folks a stronger connection to the regional ministry programs. The Madison Diocese serves 270-thousand Catholics in 134 parishes, including those in Columbia and Jefferson County.

Early Tax Filing Way Up

3/9/09 - Almost one-point-one million people have filed their Wisconsin income tax returns – and they’ve gotten average refunds of 667-dollars. The revenue department says about 70-thousand more people filed their returns through the end of February than at the same time a year ago. That confirms other reports that the recession is causing folks who expect refunds to get the money in their hands as soon as possible. The fastest way is to file on-line – where people can have their refunds deposited to their checking accounts in as little as five business days. Officials say 95-percent of the early filers have used the Internet. For the first time, the state’s Free-File Web program uses an exact copy of the paper return. You’ll find it at Wisconsin-Dot-Gov. The deadline to file, of course, is April 15th.

Koschnick Took Campaign Money from Attorneys

3/9/09 - State Supreme Court candidate Randy Koschnick has taken campaign money from lawyers who appear before him as a Jefferson County circuit judge. But he says there’s a big difference in what he did, and what his Supreme Court opponent has done. Koschnick has criticized Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson for taking 11-thousand-dollars from lawyers who appeared before her in a malpractice case last week. He said Abrahamson should have either given the money back, or withdrawn from the case. She did neither. And she denied it would influence her decision in the case. Meanwhile, the liberal group One Wisconsin Now said Koschnick took 13-hundred-dollars from lawyers in his first campaign for circuit judge in 1999 – attorneys who later appeared before him. But Koschnick says there’s a big difference. He said those lawyers did not have a case pending before the judge when they donated the money -- while those in the Abrahamson case did. If that ever happened, Koschnick said he’d withdraw from the case in question.

Federal Stimulus Will Help with Health Insurance

3/9/09 - Wisconsinites who lose their jobs now have a better chance of keeping their health insurance. The federal economic stimulus package has one-point-two billion dollars for low-income families to get coverage under Badger-Care-Plus. And the government will pay two-thirds of the cost of “COBRA” insurance – which is health coverage from a former employer – for nine months. That’s for people who lost their jobs since last September. But it could still be unaffordable for many, since the average COBRA family payment may be around 400-dollars-a-month. That could drive qualifying families into Badger-Care-Plus – where premiums start at zero and go up on a rising scale according to income.

Top Stories March 8

Three Injured in Wreck

3/8/09 - Three people were injured in a two-vehicle accident that occurred Saturday night in Dodge County. The Sheriffs Department says the wreck occurred just before 7pm in the Town of Theresa. Paul Stark of Portage was traveling westbound on Highway 28 when he struck a vehicle that was northbound on Highway 175. The 41-year-old Stark had to be cut from his vehicle. He was transported to St Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac along with his passenger, 60-year-old Susan Stark of Mayville. They were later transferred to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, along with the driver of the other vehicle, 61-year-old Joanne Wertz of Oshkosh. The crash remains under investigation but dense fog is considered to be a contributing factor.

Redevelopment Plan Update

3/8/09 - City officials in Beaver Dam will consider the hiring of a contractor for work on the city’s downtown redevelopment project when they meet in committee Monday night. In January, the Common Council approved the hiring of WDS Construction of Beaver Dam to oversee the initial phases of the downtown revitalization plan. Under the plan, the city will acquire and demolish nine of eleven downtown buildings located over the Beaver Dam River that are in violation of state statute. WDS was paid $35,000 to conduct a study to determine the actual costs of the project. The price-tag came in about a quarter million dollars less than estimated at $1.6 million dollars. Tomorrow the Operations Committee will get an update from WDS, and decide whether the company should be hired to complete the project. Their recommendation will be forwarded to the full council next Monday. The Operations Committee will meet at 6:30pm tomorrow (Mon) night in City Hall council chambers.

Changes in Columbus Municipal Broadcasting

3/8/09 - The “franchise money” used to operate City of Columbus cable TV broadcasting is going to be transferred to the State of Wisconsin control during 2010. Administrator Boyd Kraemer said the City could be loosing its two local Municipal and School System Cable Channels. The Cable Commission, inactive over the past year, will be revived to look into options Columbus has in maintaining a broadcast capability for its Council and School Board meetings. For years local residents had been able to watch former Channels 4 and 10 on the Charter Cable system to view locally operated broadcasts of City Council and School Board meetings. Passage of the new State Act will mean the end of the local franchise income. This past week the City received notice that Charter Communications was seeking court approval to file Chapter 11. The Charter “financial restructuring” was another reason for Columbus officials to seek other funding and explore internet broadcasting possibilities.

Public Hearings on Budget Scheduled

3/8/09 - Dates have announced for public hearings on the state's next two year spending plan. Northern Wisconsin is left out in the cold. None of the locations for the six hearings are north of Highway 8 - a decision Joint Committee on Finance co-chair, Senator Mark Miller, defends. It’s about saving state money. The six locations will be within reasonable commuting distance of Madison, meaning no overnight lodging needed. The first hearing is March 23 in Sparta, then March 25 in West Allis, March 27 in Eau Claire, March 30 in Racine, April 1 in Appleton, April 3 in Cambridge.

Oconomowoc Man Charged With Dog Abuse Following Drawing

3/8/09 - An Oconomowoc man is in trouble, facing felony charges, after his son drew a picture at school and wrote, "My Dad is a killer!" on the drawing. Michael Tessman is charged with mistreatment of an animal. He accused of kicking his dog five to 10 times. The dog later died. Tessmer allegedly got mad when he returned home a week ago last night and found the three year old dog had urinated and defecated on the floor. Tessmer is scheduled to make a court appearance in Waukesha County next Thursday.

Search Continues for Missing Woman

3/8/09 - The last time 28 year old Renee Marie Redmer was seen was January 5. Waukesha police are asking the public to help them find the woman who has been missing for more than two months. Redmer reportedly has a history of drug abuse and her relatives say they think she was the victim of foul play. When she left with an unknown person last January, Redmer left two small children behind. A statewide search has been conducted, focusing on Fond du Lac, Milwaukee, Waukesha and Wisconsin Dells.

Hunt Guilty in Fatal Hit and Run

3/8/09 - Jurors deliberated for about seven hours Friday before finding 19 year old James Hunt guilty of a long list of felony charges. Jurors decided Hunt was drunk when he was driving the car that hit and killed 16 year old Nikki Kehm last July. The jury also decided he kept driving, even though he knew he hit the girl. The accident happened in the town of Scott. The girl was dead at the Sheboygan County scene.

Students Charged With Bringing IED to School

3/8/09 - Three students at Madison's Whitehorse Middle School may face charges after an explosive device was found at the school. One of the boys, aged 12, was caught throwing what was called an "improvised explosive device" last Friday. A similar device was found in a locker, leading police to call in the Dane County Bomb Squad. The school wasn't evacuated, but the area around the locker was cleared of students. Three boys aged 12 and 13 were questioned. The Madison Metropolitan School District says it will take appropriate action after the police investigation is completed.

Accused Facebook Blackmailer To Plead ‘Not Guilty’

3/8/09 - His attorney says New Berlin student Anthony Stancil will plead not guilty at his court appearance tomorrow. Stancil is accused of blackmailing other boys for sex in a scam he conducted on a social networking website. Prosecutors say Stancil posed as a girl on Facebook and tricked his classmates into sending him naked pictures of themselves. The 18 year old is accused of using those pictures to blackmail the victims for sex acts. Stancil's attorney says his client is open to talking about a plea agreement, but he wants to see what evidence the state has before starting those talks.

Social Networking Websites Could Lead to ID Theft

3/8/09 - You should be careful about the information you put on your Facebook page. More than 16 thousand Wisconsin residents filed federal complaints last year as victims of consumer fraud or identity theft. Patty Struck of the state Department of Financial Institutions says about half of the state's victims are 20-to-40 years old - those most willing to share online their personal lives on Facebook and MySpace. She says everybody must learn they shouldn't provide personal data to unfamiliar people. A Marquette University researcher says people are developing different attitudes on what should and should not be kept private. She surveyed around 600 college students and only about seven percent were willing to list their address on their profile. Ninety-two percent listed their birthday. With three out of four respondents sharing their hometown, identity thieves can piece it together.

Lawsuit Brews Over WIAA Content Rights

3/8/09 - The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association says it has to protect its right to charge media partners for broadcasting its postseason tournaments. The WIAA has sued an Appleton newspaper for producing a live webcast of a high school playoff game in Stevens Point last November without obtaining permission from the state organization. The WIAA argues is owns the rights to any way a media outlet might cover its tournaments, including writing, sounds and images. Newspaper officials argue the WIAA wants too much authority -- and it could put restrictions on anyone, including parents or students at the events.

Top Stories March 7th

Public Enemies Trailer Released

3/7/09 - People around Wisconsin are buzzing about the newly-released promotional video for the Johnny Depp movie “Public Enemies.” The two-and-a-half minute trailer features scenes filmed in Beaver Dam, Oshkosh, Columbus, and elsewhere around the state. Some people say they’ve been watching it over-and-over to look for landmarks they recognize. A cinema production class at U-W Oshkosh saw the trailer Thursday. Professor Troy Perkins says a good trailer leaves enough mystery about the film to draw people in. And it’s apparently doing a good job, because the trailer was among the Top-10 searches on Yahoo yesterday. “Public Enemies” debuts nationwide July first. It was the first major film – and maybe the last – to get the state’s one-year-old tax credits designed to attract film-makers here. Governor Jim Doyle wants to drop those credits come July. He said the state didn’t get nearly enough back for the four-million-dollars taxpayers spent on “Public Enemies.”

Special Meeting of Waupun School Board Set for Wednesday

3/7/09 - A special meeting of the Waupun School Board has been called for next Wednesday to discuss the possible changes coming to the district. According to the agenda, the meeting will feature discussion of the 2009-2010 budget and long-range plan. In an effort to close a 1-million dollar deficit, the district went to referendum last month but all three questions were turned down by voters. In response, administrators originally recommended closing Fox Lake and Alto Elementary as well as a number of other cuts. However, after re-evaluating their enrollment numbers, it was determined they would recommend closing Jefferson Elementary as well. The closing of the out-of-town schools has drawn a strong response from a Fox Lake area citizen’s group called the Concerned Area Residents for Education. They are exploring the possibility of detaching from the district should the school board close their school when they vote on March 16th. This Wednesday’s meeting is set for 6pm in the Washington School cafeteria.

Davis Makes Initial Appearance Attempted Murder Charges

3/7/09 - A former Fox Lake Correctional Institution inmate who attacked two guards with a claw-hammer was in Dodge County court yesterday for an initial appearance. 50-year-old Terrance Davis is charged with two counts of attempted murder for allegedly attacking the guards in the prison’s furniture-making shop last November. A 52-year-old officer sustained head injuries and a broken arm and a 38-year-old guard required surgery for a fractured skull. Davis has been in prison since he killed two Milwaukee police officers 23 years ago when the officers walked into a drug deal. Davis faces up to 40 years in prison on each count. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 26.

Fire Destroys Garage in Beaver Dam

3/7/09 - Fire destroyed a garage in Beaver Dam early yesterday morning. Acting Fire Chief Randy Koehn says his department arrived just after midnight to the blaze at 900 North University. Koehn says the cause of the fire appears to be electrical in nature. The garage sustained extensive damage. A car inside the garage was also damaged. There were no injuries. Firefighters were on the scene for about three hours.

Federal Stimulus Helping to Rebuild Housing Industry

3/7/09 - The economic recovery plan appears to be rebuilding one industry in Wisconsin. Nancy Caldwell, Executive Director of Madison Area Home Builders Association, says federal stimulus has regenerated interest in building and renovating homes. The plan has a temporary tax credit of eight thousand dollars something she says makes first time home buyers decision "eight thousand dollars easier." The group is holding its annual three-day Home Products Show, Friday through Sunday and is expecting a record turnout. She says they are not charging admission to the show this year which she calls their version of "economic stimulus." The Madison Area Home Builders Association is not only ones seeing renewed interest in housing development. A building contractor industry conference this week in Wisconsin Dells saw its registrations go up by 25 percent from recent years.

No Texting While Driving?

3/7/09 - A state legislator wants to make it illegal to send text messages on your cell phone while driving. State Senator Alan Lasee says it's much more dangerous than just talking on the phone while driving, since it usually requires two hands and diverts your attention away from the road. Lasee is introducing legislation to ban the practice for all motorists, even though he says it's mainly a problem for young drivers. State law already has penalties for distracted driving, but Lasee says texting needs to be singled out so it can be stressed to young drivers early on.

2.1% Pension Cut for Retired State Workers

3/7/09 - The pension cut for retired Wisconsin state workers will be 2-point-1 percent. Those workers already knew they were facing a reduction. They were warned of it last January, with the blame being placed on the stock market collapse. Friday, the official announcement was made to the 146 thousand retirees in what is called the "core" fund. Pension payments tied to what is called the "variable" fund will drop 42 percent. The cuts start May 1. The state reports this is the first time there has ever been a decrease in the annuity for those retired state workers.

Meningitis Hits Appleton

3/7/09 - When someone gets meningitis, typically no one else gets sick. That's not the case in Appleton, where three high school students have confirmed cases of the disease. Appleton Public Health director Kurt Eggebrecht says it's been nearly a decade since more than one person has contracted the disease at the same time. On average, there are 34 cases of Meningitis each year in Wisconsin. The disease is spread through direct intimate contact. People generally do not get Meningitis through casual contact. Eggebrecht says the three students at North were at a social gathering outside of school, and that's how they think the disease spread. He says they may have had saliva contact while sharing a bowl of frosting. All three are being treated with antibiotics.

4th Safest February on Wisconsin Roads

3/7/09 - Whatever we're doing to make our roads safer, we need to keep doing it. With a total of 29 fatalities in 28 traffic crashes, last month was tied for the fourth safest month of February on Wisconsin roads since World War II, according to preliminary statistics from the state Department of Transportation. Traffic fatalities are continuing a decline that began last year, when Wisconsin had the fewest deaths in more than 60 years. Dennis Hughes, chief of safety programs for the DOT, cautions sustaining the safer trend "will be a huge challenge" as warmer weather arrives, bringing dryer pavements and higher speeds. That will lead to more violent and potentially deadly crashes. Hughes says drivers will need to be just as vigilant and cautious in coming months as they have been all winter.

Credit Unions Report Big Losses

3/7/09 - Wisconsin’s credit unions are building up their reserves to cover loans that may not get paid back. And that’s the big reason their earnings dropped by 19-percent in 2008. The state’s member-owned financial institutions reported a combined net income of 91-million-dollars last year – down from 113-million the year before. The state’s Office of Credit Unions reported those figures today. It said earnings remained strong until last September – when institutions set aside more of their money to cover loan losses. The total number of members in Wisconsin credit unions rose by about 35-thousand over the last year to around two-point-one million. Total assets grew from 16-and-a-half billion dollars to just over 18-billion.

GAB Settles Lawsuit with Michigan Firm

3/7/09 - Officials have settled a lawsuit from a political consulting firm over the way the state gives out voter information. The Government Accountability Board will pay 75-hundred-dollars in legal fees to the Michigan firm of Practical Political Consulting. The company buys data about Wisconsin voters, and uses it to create voter lists for campaigns and political parties. The firm filed a pair of lawsuits in 2006-and-’07 accusing the old state Elections Board of being too slow and inadequate in handing over its voter data. The Government Accountability Board, which now handles elections, was facing a trial in the case before a settlement was reached. Board director Kevin Kennedy said it was a matter of both parties agreeing they should have done a better job communicating. He said the company had a sense that the state was not giving out data fast enough – and his agency wasn’t sure exactly what the firm had been asking for. The settlement called for a meeting between the two sides, which has been held. The state agency will designate an employee to handle the firm’s requests on a more rapid basis. They’ll also work on a procedure for handling disagreements.

Authorities Call Off Search For Yellow Vehicle

3/7/09 - Authorities in Beaver Dam have called off their search for a yellow vehicle connected to two reports of attempted child enticement. Chief Dale Boldt says they apprehended two young males who admitted offering young children candy on Wednesday as a “prank of sorts.” Four children ages 5 to 9 years old were approached by two men in a yellow vehicle while walking home from school Wednesday afternoon on Gilmore and DeClark Streets. The police chief says the males had no intention of physically harming any child. The case is still under investigation. Boldt recommends that parents talk to their children about the potential dangers involved when strangers approach their children.

Top Stories March 6th

Relocation Plan Approved

3/6/09 - The city of Beaver Dam’s downtown redevelopment plan is moving forward after worries earlier this week that it could be held-up. City officials had been getting conflicting answers from the Department of Commerce regarding the need to develop a “relocation plan” for those businesses that are targeted for acquisition and demolition. On Wednesday, a meeting was held with the mayor, city attorney, and representatives with the Commerce Department and DNR. The state confirmed that a relocation plan was required but also learned that the city would not have to provide additional relocation expenses. Property owners waived relocation expenses in their original offer to sell but are also expected to acknowledge the agreement in a letter they are being asked to sign for the Commerce Department. Meeting in special session last night, the common council voted 11 to nothing to hire a Minneapolis firm at a cost of $15,000 to conduct the relocation study, a process that typically takes two to three months. Closing on nine of the eleven properties targeted for demolition is March 31, but Mayor Tom Kennedy says the firm will have it done by next week. A relocation study is required if the city wants to be eligible for a Community Development Block Grant. Kennedy says Beaver Dam could be eligible for up to a half million dollars to assist with acquisition and demolitions efforts. The grant could also pay for a portion of the relocation study.

Authorities Looking For Yellow Vehicle

3/6/09 – Authorities in Beaver Dam are investigating two incidents of attempted child enticement. Four children ages 5 to 9 years old were approached by two men in a yellow vehicle while walking home from school around 3:12pm Wednesday afternoon in the area of Gilmore and DeClark Streets. A passenger exited the vehicle and asked the kids if they “want some candy” and added, “you know you want it little girl.” The passenger is described as a white male between 30 and 40 years of age with dark hair and a goatee, wearing blue jeans and a blue t-shirt. The driver of the vehicle is described as a white male, also between the age of 30 and 40, with a full beard and wearing a black and white striped shirt. They were driving a shiny yellow, newer-model SUV or Jeep-style vehicle with a black stripe down both sides and a license plate that begins with the numbers 4-2-5. There was also a female passenger said to be sitting in the backseat described as having black hair. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department at 887-4612 or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

BD-Randolph Girls Hockey State Semi-Finals

3/6/09 - The Cinderella story of the Beaver Dam -Randolph girl’s hockey team continues this morning with the fledgling team’s first appearance in the state semi-finals. During a pep rally at the school yesterday afternoon, Athletic Director Bill Loss told the crowd that the circumstances surrounding this season –a first year team that is self-funded and all the other obstacles that they have overcome – proves that anything is possible if you believe. Coach Paul Uttech thanked the players for allowing the coaching staff to go along on the ride with them. Beaver Dam- Randolph takes on Fond du Lac-Waupun at the Alliant Energy Center beginning at 11am. Coverage on WBEV begins at 10:05am.

Tax Delinquencies Up

3/6/09 - It’s another sign of the times: more tax delinquencies in Wisconsin. Delinquent taxes and fees owed to the state have topped a billion dollars for the first time – an increase of nearly 30 percent in the past year. State Senator Glenn Grothman says it's sad, but not very surprising. The West Bend Republican says it shows people don't really have any money to pay their bills and taxes. Grothman also estimates that a great deal of the money owed is from businesses that are failing, increasing the chances the state will never get paid. It's not just all due to the current economic troubles though. More than 200 million dollars of what's due has been owed to the state for nearly a decade.

Council Gets Grant Funding To Fight Obesity

3/6/09 - The Columbia County Children’s Council is working on a plan to prevent childhood obesity. The council was recently awarded $6000 in grant funding from the state health department. Family Resource Center Director Andrea Uherka says the money will be used to assemble a coalition of physicians, teachers, child care providers and dieticians to come up with a plan. The goal: to get young kids exercising and eating more fruits and vegetables. Uherka says they want to mobilize communities to create healthy environments, which she says will make it easier for residents to eat healthy, be physically active and achieve a healthy weight. She says the problem is especially evident in Columbia County. The children’s council is inviting those interested in participating in the coalition to attend a meeting at the UW Extension Columbia County Annex on March 24.

Top Stories March 5th

Fire Damages Clyman Home

3/5/09 - The State Fire Marshall’s office is investigating a blaze that damaged a Town of Clyman home yesterday morning. Chief John Haase says no cause has been determined as of yet. A neighbor reported the fire on Junction Road around 8:15am. The owner of the two-story farm house, Derrick Uecker, tells us his wife and one year-old daughter were inside when the fire started; there were no injuries. There was extensive damage to the front and back of the second floor of the home. Haase says the home was not a complete loss, but it is currently not livable. The Clyman Fire Department received mutual assistance from four surrounding departments.

Body Found Outdoors: ‘Foul Play Not Suspected’

3/5/09 - Foul play is not suspected in connection with the death of a man found near a dumpster in the Village of Clyman Tuesday afternoon. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says a garbage truck driver discovered the body of 55-year-old Juan G. Rojas outside his residence on Main Street. Nehls says the man had been there for a while and lived nearby. The sheriff says it is being investigated as a simple death investigation and they will have more information after autopsy results are available. Nehls says the initial investigation showed no visible signs of trauma and it is possible that the man may have died of exposure to the elements.

Group Still Hopeful for Fox Lake Elementary

3/5/09 - A Fox Lake area citizen’s group called the Concerned Area Residents for Education, or CARE, has started researching detaching from the Waupun school district in the event the school board votes to close three elementary schools to help close a 1.2-million-dollar budget deficit. The groups Kim Derleth says they are still hopeful the board won’t close the schools but if it does happen they plan to hold a community meeting shortly after to gauge the interest of moving to another district. If the City and Town of Fox Lake decided they wanted to detach, a petition would be started and would need to be signed by a majority of the areas electors. It would then go to the Waupun School Board, as well as the school board of the district the group would like to join, for a vote. Both school boards would have to vote in favor for it to go through. If one or the other were not to agree the group could file an appeal. No matter what happens in the next few weeks the addition of the Fox Lake area to another district could not officially happen until the 2010-2011 school year. The Waupun school board is expected to vote on the possible closings of Fox Lake, Alto, and Jefferson Elementary at their meeting on March 16th.

Martin Introduced as Interim Police Chief in Fox Lake

3/5/09 - Fox Lake officially introduced its new interim-Police Chief at last night’s council meeting. A former officer with the department in the 1980’s, Randy Martin will take on the part-time position following the resignation from long-time Chief Pat Lynch last month. Martin will also continue to serve as the Rio Police Chief. The council is expected to discuss the possible search for a new chief during their next meeting later this month.

New Charge on Utility Bill for Fox Lake Residents

3/5/09 - Fox Lake residents will start seeing a garbage pickup charge on their water and sewer bill after the common council unanimously passed an ordinance that completely overhauls the old system last night. Instead of making residents buy $1-dollar stickers and place them on every bag they want picked up, a five-dollar charge will be added to their monthly utility bill. Customers will see the new charge beginning with their May bill.

Hundreds Attend Service for Slain Portage Soldier

3/5/09 - Over 500 people attended a funeral service in Portage yesterday for Army National Guard sergeant Daniel Thompson. Governor Jim Doyle was among those attending the service for the 24-year-old soldier, who was killed by a roadside bomb last week in Afghanistan. Three others also died in that blast. After the service, there was a 20-mile drive to a cemetery near Packwaukee in Marquette County. Mourners and signs-of-praise covered most of the route. Officials said the procession was two-and-a-half miles long.

Co-Pilot of Plane that Landed in Hudson River to Get Back in the Air

3/5/09 - The Dane County co-pilot who helped a U-S Airways plane land safely in the Hudson River now says he’ll be back in the air by the end of the month. Jeff Skiles was given a trophy and two long standing ovations yesterday at an air traffic controllers’ meeting in Las Vegas. He said he felt post-traumatic shock for a week-and-a-half after the January incident. But the 49-year-old Skiles said he got over it quickly. Skiles also said he had trouble sleeping for a short time after the crash landing, in which 155 passengers and crew members escaped without a scratch. He says he’ll do some simulated flights to re-acquaint himself with an Airbus jet before he returns to the air for real. Skiles has been a national celebrity since the incident, but he says his fame is about to run out. On Saturday, his hometown chamber-of-commerce will honor him. Skiles says he’ll soon get back to a normal flying schedule of four-to-five days a week. And he expects to keep working until he retires at 65.

Beaver Dam Lake Launch Fees Unchanged

3/5/09 - Boaters on Beaver Dam Lake will pay the same to launch this year as they have in years past. The city’s Operations Committee accepted the recommendation of Parks Supervisor John Neumann and the Lake Improvement Association in holding the fee at last years rate. Neumann cited the economy in suggesting the freeze. The fee this year will once again be $3 for daily permits for both residents and non-residents. Annual permits are $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents. The city renewed their Memorandum Of Understanding with the Lake Improvement Association; it is identical to last years and continues through April 1, 2010. The city, with support from the Association, charges a nominal boat launch user fee to make improvements at the lake. There is currently about $10,000 in the account and Neumann says their big purchase this year will be floating piers for Edgewater Park. FEMA is picking-up 80% of the costs to replace piers damaged last year by the June floods.

Phone Number Reminder For Dispatch Transition

3/5/09 - Beaver Dam Police Chief Dale Boldt says the consolidation of dispatch services with the county has been fairly successful, but there has been some confusion about office hours and phone numbers at the P-D. For those needing to do things like file a police report or pay parking tickets, Boldt says the police department lobby window is open weekdays from 7:30am to 4:30pm. During that same time, non-emergency calls will be fielded through the business office phone number in Beaver Dam by calling 887-4614. At all other times, the public can call 887-4612 to be directed to the non-emergency line at the Dodge County Sheriffs Department dispatch center in Juneau. Those who visit the Beaver Dam Police Department after-hours can also use the telephone outside the city hall lobby doors to contact the dispatch center. Boldt says police officers will not accept payments for parking citations, and will not make copies of police reports or perform other clerical duties after normal office hours. The consolidation of Beaver Dam Police Department dispatch with that of the Dodge County Sheriffs Department was completed in December of 2007.

Top Stories February 3rd and 4th

Layoffs At Kirsh Foundry

3/4/09 - Kirsh Foundry in Beaver Dam has laid-off 37 employees in recent weeks. Chairman Jim Kirsh says the cuts span supervisory and hourly workers and also include wage and benefits reductions for existing employees. Kirsh says they went from two shifts down to one and moved the first shift into the evening hours to save on electric costs. He says they hope to bring people back as the economy picks up, but notes it could be a while because his industry would be the last to see the benefits of an upswing in the economy.

Running On Fumes

3/4/09 - Wisconsin's once-promising ethanol industry seems to be in the tank, at least for now. The state's largest ethanol plant in Jefferson has filed for bankruptcy and plans for at least a half-dozen others have been shelved. Paul Zimmermann of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau says it's another sign of the troubled economy. Zimmermann says many ethanol plants have had difficulty turning a profit. Lower demand and dropping prices for oil are also seen as a major factor. Zimmermann does expect a turnaround. He says we're going to have an increased need for renewable energy and ethanol will be a big part of that in Wisconsin.

Koehn Retirement Approved

3/4/09 - Beaver Dam’s Acting Fire Chief has laid the groundwork to retire, again. The Police and Fire Commission last night accepted Randy Koehn’s retirement. Koehn says after 31 years in a stable and rewarding career the time has come. He had planned on retiring last year, but the abrupt departure of former Fire Chief George Sheets changed those plans as Koehn once again stepped into the interim role. Koehn’s last day with the department is May 1, one month after the new fire chief is expected to begin work.

Packers “Tailgate Tour” Coming to Beaver Dam

3/4/09 - The Green Bay Packers annual “Tailgate Tour” will make a stop in Beaver Dam this year. The team announced the schedule for the tour yesterday and Beaver Dam will be its last stop on May 14th. Scheduled to be in attendance are Team President and CEO Mark Murphy, Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins, wide receiver Jordy Nelson, and starting linebacker Brady Poppinga. During the day the tour will make one scheduled stop where team representatives will mingle with fans and say “thanks.” Culminating the day’s activities, there will be a tailgate party held at the Beaver Dam High School from 6 to 8:30. The party will feature food and mingling with the Packer representatives as well as a chance to win autographed footballs signed by each tour member. Tickets for the tailgate go on sale March 16th and will cost $25. The tour serves as a fund-raiser for local charitable groups, and in our area the Beaver Dam Scholarship Foundation will receive 100% of the proceeds from the day’s events.

Knaup Discloses Subsidy Figures

3/4/09 - The Beaver Dam Administrative Committee this week received an update on last year’s Spring Isle settlement with landlord Pete Knaup. The lawsuit involved the repayment of federal Housing and Urban Development money related to a partnership between the city and Knaup in the late 1980’s, when the landlord used $2 million in low-and-moderate income housing grant funds to construct the Spring Isle apartments. The city administered the funds but Knaup was supposed to pay half back to the city. As part of last year’s agreement, Knaup must pay the city $4500 annually in cash and provide a minimum of $6500 in subsidies to low-and-moderate income tenants. As of last month, Knaup made the 2009 cash payment and has also provided a total of $22,700 in subsidies, well above the mandated $6500. If he were to fail to meet the terms of the agreement, Knaup would have to make two balloon payments to the city totaling nearly one million dollars. As long as he is in compliance, the deadline for those payments will be extended indefinitely.

Accused Snowmobile Deer Killers in Court

3/4/09 - A “not guilty" plea has been entered by one of the two brothers accused of using their snowmobiles to run down and kill deer in Waupaca County. Robby Kuenzi of Weyauwega entered the plea Tuesday. His brother, Rory, previously entered the same plea. The third man charged in the incident, Nicholas Hermes, hasn't entered a plea yet. The men face several felony charges in connection with the January incident. The dead animals were found near a snowmobile trail just south of Waupaca January 10. Game wardens say what they describe as "thrill killings of wildlife" are unprecedented.

Kampen Charged With Drinking and Driving Injuries

3/4/09 - A 30-year-old Burnett man has been charged in connection with a one-vehicle accident in January that resulted in injuries to his passenger. Chadwick M. Kampen lost control of his pick-up truck on North Crystal Lake Road in the Town of Beaver Dam, entered the ditch and struck a utility pole. His 25-year-old passenger sustained minor injuries. Kampen, whose blood alcohol level was reported to be (point) .29, has two previous convictions for Operating While Intoxicated. He is charged with Causing Injury While Operating Under the Influence, with a Prohibited Alcohol Content and Operating After Revocation. Kampen faces up to one year and fines of up to $2000, if convicted.

Unclaimed Property Tour in Dodge- Jefferson County

3/4/09 - The State Treasurer’s Department is looking to connect Dodge and Jefferson County residents with money or other items they didn’t even know they had coming to them. The Unclaimed Property Outreach Tour is in Beaver Dam and Watertown Wednesday afternoon. State Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass says their database shows more than 20,000 Dodge and Jefferson County residents with unclaimed property totaling nearly $3 million dollars. Sass says typical items include the contents of safety deposit boxes, insurance premiums, along with forgotten paychecks, refund and rebate checks. The tour will be in the Beaver Dam Public Library from 12-1pm this afternoon and at the Watertown Public Library from 2:30-3:30pm.

DC Board Exec Committee Looks to Keep Prayer Part of Meetings

3/3/09 - If it was left up to the Dodge County Board Executive Committee a prayer would continue to be said at the beginning of some of their full-board meetings. That much was clear after the committee unanimously approved a motion that allows for their corporation counsel to put together a resolution that will set the parameters for those prayers. The motion came after a majority of the 14-speakers at yesterdays meeting spoke in favor of keeping the bi-monthly prayer as part of the agenda. A number of them spoke about the Christian principles they felt the country was built on, while others talked about the guiding effect prayer can have while supervisors are making important decisions. Not everyone of the close to 60 people in attendance were in favor of the prayer, with one woman quoting scripture that was intended to show that praying was between a person and their god and didn’t need to be done in the public eye. The entire issue of prayer at meetings came to light early last month after supervisor filed a complaint with the Freedom from Religion Foundation that claimed the prayer was unconstitutional because it concentrated on one specific religion. It’s expected the resolution regarding prayer will be presented to the Executive Committee at next month’s meeting with the possibility of it going to the full-county board for approval in the middle of April. Supervisor Eugene Wurtz also submitted a separate resolution to the County Clerks office that would allow for a non-sectarian prayer to be performed by rotating religious officials. That resolution is expected to be brought before the full-board on March 17th. Like last month, a moment of silence is expected to be held at the beginning of that meeting.

Jefferson Elementary Now on Cuts List in Waupun

3/3/09 - What was once a recommendation to close two elementary schools in the Waupun School District has now turned into a proposal to close a third. That was the message from administrators to a packed high school auditorium at a meeting last night. District Administrator Randy Refsland says after seeing that more than 70-kids applied for open enrollment in other districts it became clear to officials that they may be able to operate the district in just three buildings. In response, Jefferson Elementary has joined Fox Lake and Alto Elementary as schools administrators recommend closing at the end of this school year. That would leave Washington Elementary to house kindergarten through 2nd grade students, the middle school to handle grades 3rd through 6th, and the high school seeing grades seven through twelve. Closing the three elementary schools would save the district an estimated $945,000 but would still leave them with a deficit of more than $300,000 for the 2009-2010 school year. Nearly $530,000 in cut-backs were listed on the second draft of cuts released to the public, but a final recommendation from administrators will not be made until later this week. The district is being forced to close the schools in response to the deficit as a result of three failed referenda questions last month on top of other failed referendums over the past few years. Action on the administrators recommendations are expected at the boards next meeting on the 16th of this month.

Downtown Redevelopment Plan Hits Snag

3/3/09 - The city of Beaver Dam’s downtown redevelopment plan has hit a snag. Mayor Tom Kennedy says the city has been getting conflicting answers from the Department of Commerce regarding the need to develop a “relocation plan” for those businesses that are targeted for acquisition and demolition. Kennedy says the latest word from the Commerce Department – as of late Monday afternoon -- is that the city will need to have a plan in place. The common council last night tabled a motion to hire a Minneapolis firm at a cost of $15,000 to conduct the relocation study - a process that typically takes around three months – until a more definitive answer is available. Alderman expressed concern that until the matter is clarified, the closing on the properties is in question as is the amount of money that will need to be borrowed, especially if the city will have to pay more money to property owners to relocate. Closing on nine of the eleven properties targeted for demolition is March 31, but Kennedy indicates that could possibly be delayed. The mayor says he and the city attorney will work to get a definitive answer as soon as possible. If the council were to have to vote on funding for a relocation study, it would have to be soon, possibly in special session as early as next Monday.

City Borrowing Plan Outlined

3/3/09 - The Beaver Dam Common Council heard a presentation last night on their borrowing plan for the redevelopment project, as well the purchase of a new ambulance. The city currently plans to borrow $1.6 million dollars for the new Tax Increment Finance District #6 and related downtown redevelopments plans, as well as $140,000 for the ambulance. Carol Wirth with Wisconsin Finance Professionals told the council that the property owners will see two and a half cents added to the debt service of the tax levy for the ambulance. TIF #6, though, will be paid for with excess revenue generated from TIF #3 until the year 2014. After that the city will either have to generate money from development in the new TIF, pay for the redevelopment borrowing with grant funding or, as a worst-case scenario, pass the costs onto taxpayers. The council will consider the sale of the notes at their meeting in two weeks and the money could be made available by the end of the month. However, the recent snag with the Commerce Department could hold up the process.

BD Alderman in Hospital

3/3/09 - Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy asked city officials at the onset of last night’s meeting to keep Alderman Howard Abel in their thoughts and prayers. The Fourth Ward Alderman suffered a heart attack last Thursday and is expected to undergo surgery today.

BDUSD School Board Discuss Class Size; Academic Reports

3/3/09 - New Beaver Dam School Board Members were brought up to speed last night on results from the Second Quarter Academic Report and information on District class sizes. Superintendent Don Childs explained results from reading and math tests stating that an achievement performance drop in 6th through 10th grade students is one area that seems to be the norm. The Board also discussed class sizes in District schools. The Board was told class sizes varied from 15 to 26 students due to neighborhood student population differences and State and Federal funds available for student instruction.

Top Stories March 1, 2009

Phase 1 of BD Downtown Plan Below Projections

3/1/09 - The Beaver Dam Common Council tomorrow night will hear a presentation of a borrowing plan for the downtown redevelopment plan and related Tax Increment Finance District. A representative with Wisconsin Finance Professionals will be on hand to outline the financing options available for costs association with the acquisition and demolition of nine downtown buildings. Plans also call for removal of the culverts in the Tower parking lot. The buildings are located in the floodway over the Beaver Dam River, and the state DNR has indicated that such buildings are in violation of state statute but they have never given a firm deadline for their removal. Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy says the city should be proactive to prevent the further deterioration of the properties. WDS Construction was hired last month to assemble a maximum-cost proposal. Kennedy told us on WBEV’s Community Comment that WDS received their bids last week. The cost for building and culvert removal, remediation and partial restoration is estimated at $1.67 million dollars, which is about a quarter of a million dollars lower than projected. The Common Council will hear the borrowing presentation when they meet at 8pm tomorrow at City Hall. Then one week from tomorrow, city officials will hear a presentation from WDS on the costs of the project based on the bids received. At the council’s March 16th meeting, the council will consider a resolution to hire WDS to carry out the demolition and acquisition, as well as a separate resolution to consider funding for the project.

Columbus Candidate Questions Solicited

3/1/09 - Columbus residents are being asked to drop off their written questions for local candidates by Tuesday, March 10th. Candidates will be debating City issues in two separate Chamber of Commerce sessions. Questions can be dropped off at Julies Java Hut or the Pine Peddlers. The debate between candidates for City Council seats will be held on March 18th. Former Mayor and Council Member Dave Bomkamp is running against seated 2nd District Council Member Darrell Augustine. In District 3 contender Ray Lawler will be running against incumbent Bill Bruns. The only Council Member running unopposed is 1st District Alderman Roger Sneath. In the race for Mayor Former Council Member Bob Link will be running against Former Mayor Peter Kaland. That Debate is scheduled for March 25th. Organizers are expecting a good public turnout since the debates held before the February Mayoral Primary election packed the Senior Center. Both debates are scheduled for a 6:30 pm start with John Ganga moderating.

Beasley Gets One Year For Pizza Robbery

3/1/09 - The last of the teens who robbed a 76-year-old Pizza Hut delivery driver in Beaver Dam was sentenced this past week. Jarod Beasley of Beaver Dam was sentenced to one year of conditional jail time and 10 years probation related to the November 2007 robbery. The 20-year-old had previously pleaded “no contest” to a count of Armed Robbery and had charge of Theft dismissed but read into the record. According to court records, Beasley and three other teens used a BB gun and a knife after ordering the pizza to the 200 block of North Street. 19-year-old Edward Mendoza of Madison and 18-year-old’s Thomas Falkowski of Beaver Dam and Keith Shananaquet of Markesan were already sentenced to between 10 months and one year in jail.

Police Impersonator Suspected in Columbia County

3/1/09 - The Columbia County Sheriffs Department is warning the public to be on the lookout for a potential police impersonator. According to Sheriff Dennis Richards, a city of Lodi resident reported Saturday morning having been approached by a man wearing a uniform similar to that worn by a Columbia County Sheriffs Deputy, accented with a “large, LAPD-style” badge. The man did identify himself as a member of the Columbia County Sheriffs Department. He was described as a white male in his late 20’s or early 30’s, over six feet tall with sandy brown hair styled in a short, military fashion with no facial hair. Richards says deputies carry picture identification on them at all times. If an officer or deputy’s identity is ever in question, the sheriff recommends calling 911 to have the communications center verify the legitimacy of their presence.

Prescription Drop Off Successful

3/1/09 - The Dodge County Sheriffs’ Department held a prescription drug turn-in in conjunction with Saturday’s Kids Fair at the Heritage Mall in Beaver Dam. Detectives collected over 250 prescriptions and other miscellaneous medical items during the three-hour period. Detective Brian Drumm says the collection exceeded expectations. The medications will be safely disposed of rather than kept in people’s medicine cabinets – which can lead to theft or misuse – or flushed into the water supply, which is no longer encouraged.

State Budget Hearing At Miller Park

3/1/09 - When the legislature's budget committee holds a public hearing in Milwaukee this month -- it may be making history. The hearing will be open to the public at Miller Park March 21. The time and exact location will be announced this week. That will be the first of a half-dozen planned hearings around Wisconsin. Governor Jim Doyle's $62.7 billion dollar spending plan includes nearly six billion dollars in federal stimulus money and increased state taxes. The 16-member Joint Finance Committee is expected to begin voting on the two-year budget in April. Its recommendations would have to be approved by the entire legislature.

Milwaukee Sheriff Against Inmate Release Plan

3/1/09 - Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Junior says it just shows how out of touch with the reality of criminal behavior some of Wisconsin's state leaders are right now. Clarke had harsh words for an early release plan for prison inmates backed by Governor Jim Doyle. Wisconsin Corrections Secretary Rick Raemisch says the idea could save up to 27 million dollars a year. Clarke says it would be a case of playing Russian roulette with public safety, impacting Milwaukee's poor neighborhoods especially hard. Up to a thousand of the state's 22 thousand inmates might be eligible under the governor's plan.

Stone: ‘Future of Rail Uncertain’

3/1/09 - A Wisconsin lawmaker sees a mixed bag for the future of rail freight in the state. Greendale Republican state Representative Jeff Stone attended an industry-sponsored event in Washington last week where recommendations include tax incentives to improve, equipment and infrastructure. Stone says railroads struggled in the 1970s because of over-regulation. He worries that could happen again, which wouldn't be good for the economy of southeast Wisconsin. On a positive note, Stone says millions of federal stimulus dollars proposed for passenger rail will probably benefit freight as well.

EdVest Numbers Down

3/1/09 - The bad economy has taken a half-billion dollar bite out of Wisconsin's college saving program, EdVest, and a similar national plan. Many parents have seen their college savings go down dramatically. The contribution level also declined, but only by a little. EdVest offered more conservative portfolio's starting last October. The plan allows investors to earn money tax-free, and take it out of their account tax-free. Around 222 million dollars was invested in 2008.

Vets Education Still Available

3/1/09 - Despite budget cuts, officials want veterans to know a free education is still within reach. Military veterans seeking tuition remission should first apply for federal assistance with the Post-9/11 GI bill. Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Acting Secretary Ken Black says that enables the state to take full advantage of federal funding. Federal benefits will help make state benefits last a little longer. Black says Wisconsin is "holding harmless" eligible veterans. He says we don't want veterans to worry about how they are going to pay for their education. County Veterans Service Officers are available throughout the state to provide information and assistance in obtaining veterans benefits, programs and services.

CWD Issue Persists

3/1/09 - It's been seven years since Chronic Wasting Disease was first discovered in Wisconsin's deer herd – and it’s a problem that continues to haunt the DNR. Big game manager Keith Warnke says the agency is still not confident that the disease is contained to southern Wisconsin. Warnke says the DNR still has a lot to learn about how to manage and prevent it from spreading further into the state. It was February 28, 2002, that three deer in the Mount Horeb area tested positive for the fatal brain disease. Since then, the state has spent millions of dollars to stop its spread.