Top Stories, Saturday May 9

Details Emerge in Falbe Death

5/9/09 - Authorities have released more information about the death of a prominent Beaver Dam-area businessmen. Jeff Falbe was killed in an apparent workplace accident Thursday evening at the body shop he owned Falbe Crash and Collision Center on Beaverland Parkway. Town of Beaver Dam Police Chief John Kreuzinger says the 50-year-old was underneath a race car that was on four weight monitors. The car was not on jacks and slid forward off of the weight monitors, crushing Falbe underneath. Falbe was discovered by a man and his son who were dropping off a vehicle for repair. Kreuziger says Falbe was on a roller used to work underneath the vehicle and was lying on his back in a manner consistent with someone reaching up to work on a vehicle. Foul play is NOT suspected. The Dodge County Medical Examiner pronounced Falbe dead at the scene of the accident just before 10pm.

Swine Flu Confirmed in Fond du Lac

5/9/09 - The number of confirmed swine flu cases in Wisconsin has reached 298. State health officials say 65 more cases were confirmed yesterday. That includes one each in Fond du Lac and Jefferson County’s. Nationwide, the total of confirmed cases has topped 16 hundred, with 43 states reporting at least one. Doctors continue to suggest anyone with flu-like symptoms stay home from work or school. They say that might help slow the progress of the virus.

Citgo Robber Gets Five Years

5/9/09 - One of the men who robbed the Randolph Citgo on Memorial Day weekend last year has been sentenced to five years in prison. 20-year-old Jesse Bunker of Randolph was also ordered to serve 10 years of extended supervision during a sentencing hearing yesterday in Dodge County court. Bunkers accomplice, 20-year-old Mark Fischer, was sentenced last month to one year in jail and three years probation. Fischer drove the getaway car for Bunker who pulled a gun on the clerk before fleeing the scene with a duffle bag containing around $800 in cash. Bunker was a former employee of the gas station and prosecutors say he used that knowledge to plan the robbery. Authorities used in-store video surveillance to track down the duo.

Benson Back In Court

5/9/09 - Accused killer Mark Benson has more trouble with the law. The 56-year-old was in court on bail jumping charges. The Waukesha County man faces charges of being under the influence of drugs when he caused a vehicle accident last year that killed two people and an unborn baby. Now, Benson is accused of jumping bail because he was keeping firearms in his home and accepted delivery of prescription drugs while he was awaiting trial. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges. Benson has a hearing next month on a prosecution request that his half-million dollar bail be forfeited.

CARE To Begin Petition Circulation

5/9/09 - The Fox Lake Citizen’s group leading the effort to detach from the Waupun School District says they are about ready to start circulating their petition. The Concerned Area Residents for Education have a lawyer looking over the petition to make sure all of their T’s are crossed and their I’s dotted, according to Chairperson Kim Derleth. The group started the detachment process more than a month ago in response to the Waupun School Board closing three elementary schools including the one in Fox Lake. By state statute, the group must secure signatures from a majority of the people eligible to vote in the city and town of Fox Lake by July 1st. They will then present the petition to the Waupun School Board and to the Randolph School Board, which is the district the group would like to join. Derleth says they have about 25 people that will be going door to door over the next few weeks to gather the signatures. Even if the group is successful in obtaining enough signatures, Waupun Administrator Randy Refsland is on record as saying he would recommend the school board deny any detachment request.

Smoking Ban Moves Forward

5/9/09 - The compromise statewide smoking ban hammered out by two legislative committees is expected to pass next week. The ban would go into effect July 5 of next year. That delayed implementation is what led the Wisconsin Tavern League to drop out of the fight. Supporters say the compromise and delayed effective date are disappointing, but they were necessarily to get the positive vote. Governor Doyle hasn't promised he will sign the bill, but he had a smoking ban included as part of his budget plan.

BDCH Walks, Rolls, Runs To Raise Funds

5/9/09 - The nurses of the Beaver Dam Community Hospital will be walking to raise money Saturday morning. Organizers say the 5K Challenge Nurses Run-Walk-Roll is for anyone regardless of age or physical condition. Awards will be given to the top three overall male and female finishers, the youngest participant not in a stroller and the oldest and wisest participant. Strollers and wheelchairs will be allowed, but bikes, roller blades, Heelies, skateboards and pets should be left at home. The cost is $25 day of the race. It begins at 9am in the Beaver Dam Community Hospital Parking lot on Warren Street and finishes near the pond in front of the hospital. The money raised will benefit the Beaver Dam Hospital Foundation to fund scholarships for those entering the healthcare field.

Top Stories May 8th

State Revenue Shortfall Now 6.5B

5/8/09 - Governor Jim Doyle says he will not raise taxes to cover a new one-and-a-half billion dollar revenue shortfall in the next state budget. Doyle said yesterday the deficit has grown to six-and-a-half billion dollars, because tax revenues are much less than expected. As a result, he said up to 11-hundred more state employees would be laid off. Two-percent pay raises for most workers would be rescinded. Non-emergency state employees would get furloughs of eight days off a year without pay – and Doyle and Senate Democratic leader Russ Decker said they’d work those same numbers of days for free. Also, spending would be cut four-percent across the board. And local governments and schools would get less state aid. Assembly G-O-P leader Jeff Fitzgerald says it’s unfortunate Doyle is only now considering big budget cuts, after raising taxes over a billion dollars in February.

Confirmed Cases of “H1N1” Virus Skyrocket

5/8/09 - Most of Wisconsin’s probable flu cases have now been confirmed. State health officials reported 233 confirmed incidents yesterday of the Influenza-“A” virus. Tests are now being analyzed at state labs, instead of being shipped to the U-S Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta – and that’s bringing faster results. Milwaukee County has the most swine flu cases by far – 120. Waukesha County has 11, and Dane County seven. A dozen other counties have had five cases or fewer. County locations are pending for 74 other cases. There are still no confirmed cases in Dodge County.

Baby Theresa Burial Next Monday

Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says his department will not use the funeral of an abandoned newborn to try and catch the mother. Nehls says funeral arrangement have been set for next Monday for Baby Theresa whose body was discovered in some woods just south of the Village of Theresa. He says the funeral is a chance for those who care about what happened to the infant to show their respect, including his own officers. However, Nehls says they won’t be looking for the mother or anyone who knows her at the ceremony. He says the reason for the funeral is to give the baby the dignified burial she deserves. Sheriff’s Chaplain Tim Bauer will officiate over the service. (KFIZ)

Beaver Dam Family To Be Featured on Oprah

5/8/09 - A Beaver Dam woman is going to be on Oprah next week. Michelle Ladwig and her family were chosen to be part of “Oprah’s Challenge” and were asked to live without electronics for one week and they had to give up ten other items each day. Gone were the cell phones, I-pods, and TV’s. In its place were nightly family dinners and camera’s following their every move. Ladwig says Oprah’s people filmed the episode at her home Wednesday via satellite. An exact air date has not yet been announced.

Inmate Bound Over in Claw Hammer Attack

5/8/09 - A former Fox Lake Correctional Institution inmate who allegedly attacked two guards with a claw-hammer was bound over for trial yesterday in Dodge County court. 50-year-old Terrance Davis is charged with two counts of attempted murder for allegedly assaulting 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. Arraignment is scheduled for March 26.

Contreras Waives Prelim

5/8/09 - A Beaver Dam man accused of raping two young girls waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday in Dodge County court. Robert Contreras entered a “not guilty” plea to five felony counts of sexual assault and child enticement and two misdemeanors counts of Sex With A Child. The 36-year-old is accused of raping a preteen girl in March of 2008 and a teenage girl on several occasions beginning in May of 2006. The assaults reportedly stopped when Contreras was sent to prison in March of 2008 for his 5th OWI offense. If convicted, he faces a combined total of over 226 years in prison.

Zirzow Sentenced For Exposing Child to Porn

5/8/09 - A Beaver Dam man who showed a young boy pornography will spend 15 days in jail. Roger Zirzow pleaded “no contest” to a felony count of Exposing a Child to Harmful Materials related to the June 2007 incident. The 36-year-old Zirzow was also placed on probation for two years and ordered to undergo sex offender counseling.

Horicon Bank Gets Federal Dollars

5/8/09 - The parent company of Horicon Bank has been approved for $13.6 million in federal money. Sword Financial Corporation announced yesterday that they will accept money from the governments Capital Purchase Program, which is part of President Obama’s Troubled Asset Relief Program, also known as TARP. Bank President Fred Schwertfeger says the one-time offer of capital will put the bank in a better position to help support local economic growth with home, business and farm loans. The funds are offered only to banks which are deemed strong and approved by the U.S. Treasury and banking regulators, including the FDIC. The investment must be repaid with interest on a quarterly basis. To date, 13 Wisconsin banks, comprising a majority of Wisconsin-based loans and deposits, have received U.S. Treasury money. Horicon Bank has assets totaling $500 million dollars and operates ten branches, mostly in Dodge County, but also in Washington, Outagamie, Winnebago and Fond du Lac counties.

Court Upholds Ruling on GPS Trackers

5/8/09 - A Wisconsin appeals court has upheld the power of police to attach Global Positioning Systems to cars to track people's movements. The ruling came in a case involving Michael Sveum, a Madison man who was being investigated for stalking a woman in 2003. Police obtained a warrant to put a GPS device on his car and secretly attached it in his driveway. Police tracked his car's movement for weeks. Based on that information, investigators obtained a warrant to search his home and car and found incriminating evidence. Sveum was charged, convicted and sentenced to prison. The 41-year-old Sveum argued that attaching the GPS device was an illegal search and seizure. The District 4 Court of Appeals disagreed.

Top Stories May 6th

Foreclosure Rate Stable in Dodge County

5/6/09 - The foreclosure rate in Dodge County for April held steady from the previous month. According to Foreclosurealarm-dot-com, there were 28 foreclosures filings in the county, the same as March. Jefferson County saw foreclosures jump slightly, going from 28 in March up to 32 last month. Meanwhile, foreclosures were down over the two-month period in Columbia County dropping from 31 in March to 26 in April. Statewide, filings were down 5-percent. However, one economist says it’s too early to celebrate. U-W Whitewater professor Russ Kashian says if unemployment remains high, you’ll lose see a lot more foreclosures. And this time, it will be those with traditional mortgages and not just homes with the risky sub-prime loans. It all depends on what happens Friday morning when the national unemployment numbers come out. If less than a half-million jobs were eliminated in the past month, Kashian says it will be a sign of better times. But if 600-thousand more jobs are lost, he says foreclosures will rise again.

H1N1 Virus Update

5/6/09 - Most Wisconsin schools that were closed due to Influenza-“A” will re-open today. That’s after the federal government did an about-face on its previous advice that schools with links to the swine flu be shut down for two weeks. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said he agreed the virus is not severe enough to warrant the mass school closings right now – and 17 city schools will re-open today. State officials said 32 schools had shut down across Wisconsin. A few will re-open tomorrow. Many school officials and parents questioned whether the closings were necessary. Milwaukee School Board member Terry Falk said it was easy for the government to close schools – while shutting down businesses and large gatherings like Brewer baseball games would have gotten more complaints. But Milwaukee medical officer Geoffrey Swain said schools were targeted for a good reason – because the kids are so close all day, it’s where the disease spreads the most. And if the outbreak was more serious, Swain said other things could have been shut down.

Meanwhile, America’s pork industry says it’s losing at least two-and-a-half million dollars a day because of the public’s reaction to the H-1-N-1 virus. Most media outlets still call it swine flu, even though the World Health Organization officially calls it Influenza-“A.” Thirteen foreign pork customers – including major buyers China and Russia – continue full-or-partial trade bans on pork and live swine. U-S officials and the pork industry still insist that pork meat is safe. And there’s no link between U-S hogs and the current outbreak, despite a recent case of a hog herd in Canada getting ill – and a report that a Sheboygan teen got the same disease after butchering pigs in 2005. But the teen did not spread the disease any further. Wisconsin is the nation’s 17th largest processor of pork meat, and the state’s producers are feeling the impact. Nick Giordano of the National Pork Producers Council says Honduras may drop its pork import restrictions soon. And the U-S-D-A and America’s trade representative are working to get other countries to lift their bans – and stop more countries from imposing them.
The state reported 119 probable flu cases and five confirmed cases in its latest update yesterday.

Short-Notice Smoking Ban Hearing Held

5/6/09 - Just over 70 people made their feelings known yesterday at a Wisconsin Senate hearing on the proposed statewide public indoor smoking ban. But they didn’t really know what they were commenting on – since the bill’s details are still being negotiated. Governor Jim Doyle’s budget called for a smoking ban in all workplaces, but legislators felt the issue should be considered separately because of its importance. Rob Swearingen, president of the state’s Tavern League, says his group is hammering out the bill’s details with key lawmakers, the American Cancer Society, and Smoke-Free Wisconsin. Taverns want the ban phased in – and they want an exception for cigar bars. But Maureen Busalacchi of Smoke-Free Wisconsin says she’ll defend the need to protect workers from second-hand smoke. At the hearing, 60 people either spoke or registered in favor of a statewide ban, and 11 opposed it. Swearingen said there would have been more opponents, had there been more than one day’s notice of the hearing. The Assembly plans a similar committee hearing today. Both houses are scheduled to act on the smoking ban next Wednesday.

Man in Satisfactory Condition after Accident

5/6/09 - A 30-year-old man involved in a motorcycle accident last Friday in Beaver Dam was listed in satisfactory condition at a Milwaukee Hospital yesterday. Paul Deluca and a passenger were driving on Madison Street Friday night when they collided with an SUV. Deluca and his passenger, 27-year-old Faleon Sarto, were both flighted to Froedert Hospital in Milwaukee. Sarto was released Saturday. The driver of the SUV, 66-year-old Arthur Rettschlag suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Beaver Dam hospital where he was treated and released.

Woman Unconscious after Accident

5/6/09 - A two-vehicle accident late yesterday morning sent one person to the hospital. Authorities say a woman driving an SUV was stopped at the intersection of Highways A and B in the Town of Beaver Dam. When she pulled into the intersection an empty milk truck traveling south on A struck the side of the vehicle. The woman was ejected from the vehicle and initially unconscious. Beaver Dam EMS responded and took the woman to Beaver Dam Community Hospital where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries. The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the cause of the accident.

Appeal Upheld in Vote Bribing Case

5/6/09 - A Milwaukee man failed yesterday to get out of a criminal conviction for buying votes for his nephew’s recall election. The First District Court of Appeals said a jury was correct in finding Garrett Huff guilty on three counts of conspiracy to commit election bribery. The 40-year-old Huff paid people five-dollars to vote for Alderman Michael McGee in a recall election in 2007. McGee won that contest just weeks before he was arrested himself for extortion and taking bribes. Police said Huff – as a McGee campaign worker – paid three undercover officers five-bucks each for their promises to vote for McGee. But Huff later claimed he didn’t do anything wrong because the officers didn’t live in McGee’s district, and they could not have voted in the election anyway. The appeals court did not buy that argument.

Farmers Encouraged by Planting Progress

5/6/09 - Wisconsin farmers are making good progress with their spring planting. Just over one-sixth of the state’s corn crop is in the ground. The southwest and west central regions had almost a-third of their corn planted by Sunday, but wet conditions in the southeast have pretty much held things up. Almost 90-percent of the fields in southeast Wisconsin have surplus moisture. But three-fourths of soils around the state have adequate moisture. It’s still a bit dry in the northwest and northeast. Oat planting is 74-percent complete, and almost a third of the crop has emerged. There are some reports of winter-kill in the alfalfa and winter wheat – but most farmers say those crops look good.

Top Stories May 5th

Authorities Still Looking for Mother of “Baby Teresa”

5/5/09 - Dodge County sheriff’s deputies thought they were close last week to finding the mother of a newborn girl who was thrown in the woods in a garbage bag. But Sheriff Todd Nehls says the tips dried up over the weekend. And investigators have expanded their search, checking with doctors as far away as Chicago to see if the mother had sought help. A wood-cutter found the infant last Wednesday in a wooded area near Theresa. Authorities have called the girl “Baby Teresa” to give her some sort of identity. Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner Douglas Kelly says the mother might be in dire need of medical attention – because she could get infections. But Dodge County Medical Examiner P-J Schoebel said the mother apparently took care of herself during the pregnancy, because the baby is healthy. Early reports said Baby Teresa was born 12-to-24 hours before being dumped. But Schoebel says he cannot confirm it yet. Nehls said the mother may not be from the area – or else people are so close to her, they think it’s in her best interest not to say anything to authorities.

No Flu Cases Found in BD School District

5/5/09 - There are still only three confirmed cases of Influenza-“A” in Wisconsin. But the number of probable cases jumped to 102 yesterday, though none have been reported in Dodge County. The virus has also not had an impact yet on Beaver Dam School District students. That was as of last night as Director of Pupil Services Deb Parman updated the Beaver Dam School Board on the flu. Parman said that even though a number of students have not been in school because of having flu-like symptoms, there have been no probable or confirmed cases of H1N1 in any of the schools. The number of students with flu-like symptoms has been increasing gradually according to Parman, with a total of 70 students leaving school last Friday. Parman said students that show two of the seven symptoms for H1N1 are sent home and can’t return until the symptoms are gone or there is clearance from a doctor. Superintendent Don Childs told the board that a building would have to be closed for at least 14 days if there was a probable or confirmed case. State education officials also told Childs that if school is closed because of the flu, the missed time does not have to be made up. Parman said that school district nurses and other staff are staying on top of the situation with monitoring of students and contact with other health agencies on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, state officials confirmed a Newsweek magazine report that a 17-year-old Sheboygan boy had swine flu symptoms for three days in 2005. Doctor Jeffrey Davis, the state’s chief medical officer, said the teen was infected from exposure to freshly killed pigs at a slaughterhouse. A chicken had moved into his house before that. And no other family members or those exposed to the pigs had the virus. The Newsweek article was called “The Path of a Pandemic,” but officials said the case was not linked to the current disease. It was also discussed last year in an infectious disease journal. That article called for prompt investigations to identify and control the sources of swine flu.

Demerit Point System Gets First Reading

5/5/09 - After months of planning the Beaver Dam Common Council heard the first reading of an ordinance that would set up a demerit point system for local taverns. An ad hoc committee, made up of council members, city leaders, and law enforcement, was formed earlier this year to put together the ordinance drawing from surrounding communities versions. Chairman of the Committee Don Neuert says system put in place will allow for the council to have an across the board measuring stick to judge all establishments fairly. 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. The council will vote on the measure later this month.

Downtown Project in BD to Start Next Monday

5/5/09 - Work on the Downtown restoration project in Beaver Dam will begin next Monday. Mayor Tom Kennedy updated the city council last night saying remediation on the recently acquired buildings will start May 11th with the razing of the properties slated to start on the 18th of the month. The first building to be torn down will be the Celestial building followed by Julie R Dancewear. Kennedy also says the expected completion date has been moved up to July 31st.

Boehler Sentenced

5/5/09 - 34-year-old Richard Boehler, who was driving a truck that struck and killed a 63-year-old Beaver Dam man last July, has been sentenced to 90-days in jail for changing his driving logs and not observing required rest requirements.. David Brandenburg died after being struck from behind while riding his bicycle on Highway A last July 7th. Boehler was convicted on charges of obstructing an officer and reckless driving. Judge Brian Pfitzinger also suspended Boehler’s license for one year on the charge of inattentive driving.

High Speed Chase Leads to 4th OWI

5/5/09 - A Watertown man must have had a little déjà vu Sunday night. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says 42-year-old Gerald Eckes led a deputy on a chase that started on Highway O in the Town of Lebanon and reached speeds nearing 120-miles-per-hour before ending on Midway Lane. Eckes was cited for his 4th OWI and faces charges of eluding an officer and having open intoxicants in his vehicle. Incidentally, Eckes was arrested by then Deputy Todd Nehls following a similar chase in the early 90’s.

Meal Prices to Increase in BD School District

5/5/09 - Students in the Beaver Dam School District will have to pay a little more for breakfast and lunch next school year. The Beaver Dam School Board last night approved raising the prices for the student meals at the schools. The cost for a full-priced breakfast will increase by a nickel while the cost for a full-priced lunch will go up by a dime. The cost for milk will also increase by five cents. The prices for the reduced price breakfasts and lunches will stay the same.

The board also reelected Bev Beal Loeck as school board president. Lisa Panzer was elected board vice president.

AG: Justice Department Committed to “Core GOP Principles”

5/5/09 - As the only major state office who is Republican, Attorney General JB Van Hollen says the justice department remains committed to "core Republican principles." He points to areas like fiscal responsibility, which includes going after people and businesses that rip off the government. He says they've collected tens of millions of dollars more in fraudulent restitution each year than his predecessor. Van Hollen says the DOJ was the only state agency during his first two-year budget to return money – 1-point-2 million dollars. The AG says it's due in large part to productivity and efficiency at the state crime lab, which is about to be the first in over 20 years to rid the backlog of DNA evidence.

Late Notice for Public Hearing on Smoking Ban

5/5/09 - Those for-and-against Wisconsin’s public indoor smoking ban won’t have much time to prepare their testimony for state senators. Health Committee chair Jon Erpenbach has called a public hearing for 10 o’clock this morning at the Capitol in Madison. The public notice was just barely legal under the state’s Open Meeting Law. It was given just 35 minutes before the required 24-hour notice yesterday morning. Last week, the Assembly’s Health Care committee said it would hold a hearing on the smoking ban Wednesday morning. Both houses are scheduled to act on it a week from Wednesday, even though it’s part of the state budget that’s now before the Joint Finance Committee. Opponents of the smoking ban say bars in remote places like northern Wisconsin are the ones most likely to go out of business if it passes.

Top Stories May 4th

Milwaukee Man Dies after Weekend Accident

5/4/09 - A 26-year-old Milwaukee man became Dodge County’s 4th motor vehicle fatality this year after he lost control of his motorcycle on Saturday night. The Sheriff’s Department says Benjamin Ketterhagen was riding his motorcycle westbound on Highway 16/60 near Oxbow Road in the town of Elba when he lost control going around a curve, slid across the center line and was struck by an oncoming car. Ketterhagen was flighted to the UW Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries yesterday. The occupants of the other car were not injured. The cause of the accident is still under investigation but officials say alcohol and unfamiliarity with the area played a role.

Schools Keeping Eye on Attendance

5/4/09 - Officials in local schools are continuing to monitor the spread of the newly named “Influenza A” virus that’s causing panic throughout North America. Waupun District Administrator Randy Refsland says he attended a public health meeting in Fond du Lac County where school officials shared concerns and asked questions. He says students were sent home with letters last Thursday making parents aware of the situation and they also have secretaries monitoring attendance in the district. The Center for Disease Control confirmed three cases of the H1N1 virus in Wisconsin over the weekend and officials say there are another 66 probable cases statewide. The closest probable case to our area that’s been reported is in Oconomowoc, where three schools in the district will be closed for at least a week. If you have any questions about the flu or its symptoms you can dial 2-1-1 on your phone to speak with someone at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Officials: Pork OK to Eat

5/4/09 - Wisconsin’s pork producers say it’s okay to eat their product. And more officials around the world agree with them, as people keep calling the H-1-N-1 virus swine flu. The World Health Organization now calls it Influenza-“A.” And the U-S-D-A, Homeland Security, and Centers for Disease Control all say the disease is not in the nation’s hogs – and there are no food safety issues. Pork producers have taken a huge hit – and Wisconsin has a lot to lose. Over a million Wisconsin pigs are marketed each year from about 700 operations. And the industry creates about 35-hundred related jobs in the Badger State. A statement from the Wisconsin Pork Association reaffirms that the flu is a respiratory illness, and people cannot get it from food.

Researcher Looking for Weaknesses in H1N1 Virus

5/4/09 - U-W Madison’s top flu researcher is studying the H-1-N-1 flu virus, digging for weaknesses a vaccine can attack. The Centers for Disease Control gave Yoshihiro Kawaoka a sample of the virus last week. He’s now analyzing its genetic make-up, comparing it to other viruses, and seeing if it becomes resistant to anti-viral medications. That work and more could take awhile – and it’s not expected to play a role in the vaccine that’s due out nationally later this year. Still, Kawaoka says his efforts could help with future vaccines. In the meantime, he says this could be an important week in seeing how widespread the newly-labeled Influenza-“A” will become. He says we’ll start to see if the transmission by humans is as extensive as it’s been in Mexico – where cases of the former swine flu are reported to be leveling off.

Tip Does Not Pan Out for DC Authorities

5/4/09 - Authorities in Dodge County are still searching for the mother of a newborn found dead in a wooded area outside of Theresa last week. Sheriff Todd Nehls says late last week they received a tip that was described as “real good” but it did not pan out. Nehls says in response to a lack of progress over the weekend, he’ll be meeting with detectives this morning to formulate a plan for their next move. The child was found in a garbage bag by a man cutting wood in the area Wednesday night. Officials believe the baby had been born only 12 to 24 hours before it was found. No information about the dead infant has been released other than her sex and that she is Caucasian. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department or the anonymous We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.

Farmer Praises Firefighters after Weekend Blaze

5/4/09 - Close to 50 firefighters battled a large barn fire in Randolph early Saturday afternoon that threatened other buildings on the farm. Farmer Stan Deboer says without the efforts of four local fire departments to contain the fire to one barn he may not be in business this morning. Fox Lake Fire Captain Mick Casey says a hay barn at W11272 Highway P was fully engulfed when they arrived but firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading to other barns on the property. Deboer says the building, which had about $6,500 worth of hay in it, was a total loss but he plans to rebuild. Fire Departments responding to the scene were Fox Lake, Friesland, Randolph, and Cambria.

Niles Pleads Guilty

5/4/09 - The former office manager of the Dodge County Clerk of Courts office accused of theft has pled guilty. Fifty-eight-year-old Linda Niles of Beaver Dam was fired last October after an investigation into some missing money from the office. The theft was discovered during a daily accounting of the money that goes through the office. During a court appearance last Thursday Niles pled to what amounts to an ordinance violation. She will pay $200 in restitution and court costs. (KFIZ)

BD Council to Discuss Demerit Point System for Taverns

5/4/09 - The Beaver Dam Common Council will hold a first reading tonight on the implementation of a demerit point system for local taverns. 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 modeled their ordinance after a similar one in Waupun. Any establishment that receives between 150 and 199 demerit points within in a 12-month period, could receive a warning or have their license suspended for between 10 and 90 days. For points totaling 200 or more within an 18-month period, the license could be suspended or revoked. An establishment could be assessed 150 demerit points for: failing to cooperate with public safety officials, violating nude dancing restrictions, or allowing employees to deal drugs…80 points for serving minors or selling to an intoxicated person…50 points for excessive noise or public consumption. In addition, if there is a fight, the business would be penalized 10 points if an employee notifies authorities, but 80 points if they don’t. A conviction for a violation is not necessary to assign points. That decision would be made by the Chief of Police based on his analysis of the violation. First reading is tonight with the vote on the council floor expected at their May 18 meeting.

Only One Exception to “No Dogs” in BD Parks Ordinance

5/4/09 - The Beaver Dam Police Department is reminding the public about the city ordinance that prohibits dog walking in city parks. Chief Dale Boldt says as part of the Safety P.I.N program, officers will be targeting people who are in violation of the ordinance. The fine for having a dog in the park is $109. There is one city park where dogs can be walked, and that follows city council action late last year. The northeast section of Edgewater Park has been designated as “dog-friendly.”

Walker Early Favorite for GOP Governor Nomination

5/4/09 - Wisconsin Republicans went home from their state convention in La Crosse yesterday with an unofficial early endorsement of Scott Walker for governor. 93-percent of the 423 delegates answering a straw poll from Wis-Politics-Dot-Com gave Walker the nod over former Racine congressman Mark Neumann. Walker is the only declared G-O-P candidate at the moment for the 2010 governor's race. Neumann has expressed an interest in running, and Appleton businessman Mark Todd has registered. But Todd is an unknown. And U-W Madison political science professor Charles Franklin says Walker and Neumann will need to use social issues to differentiate themselves from one another. Both have railed Democratic Governor Jim Doyle over the economy and his tax increase proposals. Doyle has not announced a bid for a third term, but he's expected to run.

NOAA Weather Radios Available

5/4/09 - With tornado season upon us, the Columbus Fire Department is offering NOAA Weather Radio’s for $25. Firefighter Jared Fox says the radios will provide immediate notification for severe weather or civil emergencies and are available while supplies last. The Midland NOAA Weather Radios are available Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9am until noon at the fire station at 123 West Harrison Street.

Top Stories May 2nd

Number of Probable Swine Flu Cases up to 14

The numbers change from hour to hour. At last report, the Wisconsin Department of Health had submitted a total of nearly 400 samples for testing. They're looking for swine flu. Of those, 243 tested negative, 14 were probable and 132 test results weren't in yet. Many of the same schools which didn't hold classes yesterday will be closed Monday as well. Most of them were in the southeastern part of the state. A half-dozen probable cases of swine flu were located in Milwaukee County.

BDHS Holds Mock Accident

5/2/09 - Two people were killed and four others injured in a two-car accident yesterday in Beaver Dam. That’s the headline that would have been written had the incident not been part of a mock accident put on at the high school yesterday. The event comes in the wake of eight deaths of Beaver Dam students or recent graduates since the start of 2008. The day started with students watching a video of six of their classmates drinking before they piled into two cars which led to the accident. Using it as a drill, the accident was called into the dispatch center exactly as it would have if it were real. Beaver Dam police, fire, and EMS responded as did the Dodge County Medical Examiner and a funeral home. Students watched as two of the kids were pronounced dead at the scene and others cut from their vehicles. After the reenactment, students were led back into the gym where police officer Lisa Jones, former Deputy Fire Chief Randy Koehn, and recent accident victim Sarah Starr spoke in an effort to drive the point home of how dangerous not paying attention or driving drunk really is. The six students involved in the accident were Melissa Rompre, Dustin Blanchard, Ben Buhalog, Nick Reilly, Cady Roedl and Courtney Miller.

DC Still Looking for Mother of Abandoned Infant

5/2/09 - Authorities in Dodge County are still looking for the mother of a baby who was thrown in the woods in a garbage bag. Sheriff Todd Nehls said his officers were following up on what he called a “credible tip” that matched details of the case that have not been released. A man cutting wood found the infant in the garbage bag late Wednesday afternoon near Theresa. Since the case hit the media yesterday, Nehls said his agency has been flooded with leads from all over Wisconsin. He said the most credible tip came from a source in southeast Dodge County. Pathologists believe the child was born only 12-to-24 hours before being tossed in the woods. Nehls would not say whether the death was a homicide, or what he called the “unauthorized disposal of a corpse.” An autopsy was conducted yesterday and the sheriff would only say that the baby was a female Caucasian. He said his officers learned the mother had a rough delivery with the infant – and doctors told him the mother might need subsequent care and not know it until it’s too late.

Fire Damages Juneau Home

5/2/09 - A fire at a home in Juneau yesterday morning caused a significant amount of damage. Juneau Assistant Fire Chief Dan Wegener says they were called to 252 East Center Street around 9am after receiving reports of flames inside the home. He says after turning off the utilities firefighters entered the home and were able to get the fire under control quickly. Wegener says there was considerable smoke and heat damage to the home and it is unlivable. The home is owned by Anthony Jezyk though no one was home at the time. Firefighters were on the scene for about an hour.

Archeology Weekend Begins Today

5/2/09 - The Rock River Archaeological Society is holding their annual Archeology Weekend today (Sat) and tomorrow (Sun) at the new Horicon Marsh International Education Center. The Society’s Don Gerhke says the 2-day event will feature hands-on demonstrations, a Native-American Indian artifact show, story telling and drum circle and an authentic Buck Skinners Camp. DNR Naturalist Bill Volker will also be on hand and will give a presentation about Horicon’s Native American roots. The Archeology Weekend will be held from 10am to 4pm today (Sat) and tomorrow at the Horicon Marsh International Education Center on State Highway 28 between Horicon and Mayville. The event is free and open to the public.

Authorities Investigating Apparent Suicide

5/2/09 - Sheboygan police say a 17 year old student who apparently shot himself to death had been troubled recently. School had been dismissed for the day about 40 minutes before the teenager killed himself. The victim's classmates were inside Sheboygan North High School, decorating the hallways for an event to be held today. The boy was found outside in the school parking lot with a serious stomach wound. He died at Aurora Sheboygan Medical Center. Investigating officers found a gun in a car that was near the spot where the boy was found. The school was put on lockdown status while the shooting was checked out.

Steele Speaks at Republican Convention in La Crosse

5/2/09 - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's address was the highlight of the party's annual state convention in La Crosse. Party members from all over the state filled the Radisson Hotel and the La Crosse Center Arena. The convention runs through tomorrow morning. Signs for Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker covered the arena's walls. Walker is running for Wisconsin governor. He is among the speakers scheduled to talk to convention attendees. He will take the podium today.

Dells Jobs Filling up Fast

5/2/09 - Lake Delton is ready for business and Wisconsin Dells area jobs are filling up fast. There are the same number of jobs this summer as in previous years, but more people are looking for work. Tom Diehl, owner of the "Tommy Bartlett Show," says many businesses in the Dells have a lot more applicants to choose from this year, something Diehl attributes to the bad economy. Diehl says the greater pool of job seekers this year made it easier to put together a summer staff. He just finished hiring on Tuesday.

Kenosha Chrysler Plant Closing by the End of ‘09

5/2/09 - Chrysler's engine plant in Kenosha is among eight to be closed by the end of the year. Attorneys for the automaker say a motion will be filed today to sell most of Chrysler's assets to Italian automaker Fiat. Nearly five thousand people work at the eight plants being shut down. About 850 are employed in Kenosha. Chrysler says the workers affected will be offered positions at other plants. Another hearing on Chrysler's bankruptcy plans will be held Monday morning. In that courtroom Chrysler will ask the judge to let it start using four and a half billion dollars in loans to keep operating under bankruptcy protection.

Rally for Immigration Reform Held Despite Flu Concerns

5/2/09 - The crowd was smaller due to fears of swine flu, but eventually thousands of people joined the lunchtime rally in Milwaukee to support immigration reform. Organizers said they would understand if some people didn't feel comfortable enough to march due to the health threat. A few marchers did show up wearing masks. The marched through downtown Milwaukee, ending with the rally at Veterans Park.

Man Drowns While Running from Police

5/2/09 - If you're going to jump into the river to get away from police -- make sure you can swim. Milwaukee police report a 23 year old man died yesterday afternoon. Officers report they approached him, wanting to talk to him, and he took off running. The man jumped into the Milwaukee River near the intersection of North Plankinton and St. Paul. The man jumped in at about 12:30 p.m. and was pulled out 30 minutes later.

Top Stories May 1st

Possible Flu Cases Lead to Declaration of Public Health Emergency

5/1/09 - Governor Jim Doyle has declared a public health emergency in Wisconsin. The state now has five probable, but unconfirmed, cases of swine flu, after two more cropped up yesterday in Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties. Doyle told the state’s public health agency to do what’s necessary to respond. Stockpiles of anti-viral medications will be given out as needed, and Wisconsinites can get them whether they have health insurance or not. The governor also authorized the National Guard to help. The state has submitted 228 suspected flu cases to the Centers for Disease Control for testing. Most turned up negative, and 41 others are pending. Most cases involved people who traveled to Mexico or places close to it. But Milwaukee health officials say that’s no longer a crucial factor, now that the H-One-N-One virus is here. At least seven schools in Milwaukee are closed today. Doyle has not called for large events to be canceled but quote, “we are monitoring this hour-by-hour.”

Authorities Still Looking for Mother of Abandoned Infant

5/1/09 - The woman who gave birth to the baby girl found dead Wednesday night could be suffering from medical issues due to a “difficult delivery.” Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says health professionals have told him the woman could be having complications from the birth that she may not figure out until it’s too late. An autopsy on the child was performed yesterday but authorities have not released anymore information outside of the child’s sex and that she is Caucasian. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Department or the anonymous We-Tip Hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

Law enforcement agencies are also reminding the public there are alternatives to abandoning a newborn in an unsafe place. Molly Soblewski with the Sheriffs Department says Safe Haven laws allow a mother to drop-off a newborn at a hospital, law enforcement agency or place of worship without questions and without the worry of criminal charges.

Best Western Robber Gets Seven Years

5/1/09 - Seven years in prison for a Horicon man who robbed the Best Western – Campus Inn last fall. Curtis Pautsch pleaded “no contest” in February to a felony charge of Robbery with the Use of Force and had a count of Threats to Injure dismissed but read into the record. The 24-year-old entered the hotel on Park Avenue in Beaver Dam just after 4am on October 3 and left with a bag full of cash hidden inside a garbage can. Authorities say the desk clerk identified Pautsch by a tattoo on his hand and other distinguishable facial features. He had 15 prior convictions, including two felonies. Pautsch was also sentenced to five years of extended supervision and ordered to pay $5100 in restitution.

Sires Get One Year For OD

5/1/09 - A Beaver Dam man entered a “no contest” plea yesterday (Th) to charges related to an overdose death. Mark Sires was in Dodge County court for an initial appearance, but instead waived his rights to a preliminary hearing, entered the plea and proceeded to sentencing. The 55-year-old got one year in the Dodge County jail on a charge of First Degree Reckless Homicide. Sires supplied 34-year-old Mark Wampole methadone in February of 2008. Wampole and his girlfriend spent the night at Sires mobile home and the girlfriend discovered him dead the next morning. Sires is constrained to a wheelchair and held valid prescriptions for methadone. Judge Andrew Bissonnette told Sires that if he senses a person befriends him with the intent of using his prescription drugs, then he has to report that person to his probation agent. Sires was also placed on probation for 20 years and ordered to pay $5000 in restitution for funeral expenses.

Four Injured in Lowell Wreck

5/1/09 - A young girl was seriously injured in a two-car accident Thursday in the township of Lowell. The wreck occurred just after 2pm on State Highway 16/60 at the intersection with County Highway J. Authorities says a westbound SUV driven by a Pardeeville woman failed to yield and collided head-on with an eastbound pick-up truck operated by a 52-year-old Madison man. Three of the injured parties were transported to Beaver Dam Community Hospital. The girl, a preteen from the Pardeeville-area, was taken to UW Hospital - Madison by Flight for Life. The crash remains under investigation.

Retirement Party for Koehn Today

5/1/09 - Today is the last day on the job for Beaver Dam Deputy Fire Chief Randy Koehn. After three decades with the department, Koehn 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 of Fire Chief. Koehn is being replaced by Alan Mannel of Matteson, Illinois who has been on the job for the past month. Mannel says Koehn has been invaluable during the transition. A retirement party will be held this morning at the Beaver Dam Fire Station beginning at 9am for those wishing to congratulate Koehn on his retirement.

Legislature Puts Movie Tax Credits Back in Budget

5/1/09 - Hollywood’s movie cameras will keep rolling in Wisconsin, if state lawmakers have their way. The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee voted 16-to-nothing late last night to restore the tax credits for movies and T-V productions that Governor Jim Doyle scrapped in his proposed state budget. Doyle would have to ultimately approve the changes. Eligible films would get up to three-million-dollars in tax breaks over the next two years, and there would be no limit after that. There would also be tax credits of up to 25-percent for Wisconsinites who are hired, and 20-percent for non-residents with certain limits. And at least 35-percent of a movie’s total budget would have to be spent in Wisconsin. Doyle dropped most of the movie incentives after the Johnny Depp film “Public Enemies” received four-and-a-half million in tax breaks – almost as much as what the producers spent in Wisconsin.

Voter Identities to be Verified

5/1/09 - State election officials will start verifying the identities of thousands of voters this month. Attorney General J-B Van Hollen wanted the checks done before last fall’s elections, and he failed to win a lawsuit to do it then. But in January, the Government Accountability Board agreed to check voter registrations dating back to 2006. Those checks will start soon, and are expected to be finished by the end of the year. Election officials said the checks would have been too cumbersome while they were getting ready for last year’s voting. And a judge said it would have disenfranchised voters whose names appear differently on their voter registration forms and their driver’s licenses. The identity checks are required under federal law.

Peeper Faces Charges

5/1/09 - A furnace repairman is accused of poking holes in a wall, to try and see a woman taking a shower in an adjacent bathroom. 35-year-old Dominic Swoboda of Chippewa Falls appeared in Eau Claire County Circuit Court yesterday on misdemeanor counts of invading privacy and disorderly conduct. According to prosecutors, Swoboda was working on a basement furnace at a home in Eau Claire on March 19th, while a 21-year-old woman was showering close by. The next day, she noticed holes in the wall. Police said Swoboda used a screwdriver to poke a few holes to try and see the woman – but he couldn’t see anything. He’s due back in court June 10th.