Buildings and Trees Down After Wednesday Night Storms
5/14/09 - Severe weather last night caused damage in northeastern Dodge County. Strong winds were reported to have knocked down buildings, sheds, and trees near Highway V and Farmersville Road in the Town of Leroy. Damage consisted of two pole barns being destroyed which contained approx. 100 head of cattle. Other damage consisted of several sheds and fences destroyed. Many trees were uprooted. It appears that houses in the area received minimal damage. No one was injured in the storm though several head of cattle were killed when the pole barns collapsed. The damage appears to be isolated to the Farmersville area though wind wasn’t the only problem and torrential rains pounded us as well. According to the National Weather Service, Beaver Dam got 1.7-inches and there was minor flooding on many streets, with some places seeing standing water between 4 and 6 inches. Some of the flooding caused manholes to be removed in places.
Man Injured in Late April Accident Dies
5/14/09 - A 51-year-old Madison man injured in a two vehicle accident April 30th has died. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says Kevin Wilder passed away May 6th from injuries sustained in the accident. The wreck occurred just after 2pm on Highway 16/60 at its intersection with Highway J. Authorities says a westbound SUV driven by 57-year-old Carol Kath of Pardeeville was making a left turn onto Highway J when an eastbound pick-up truck, driven by Wilder, collided with their vehicle. Kath, her 11-year-old passenger Nicole Manske of Pardeeville and Wilder were taken to the Beaver Dam hospital before the two adults were flown to UW-Hospital in Madison. A second passenger in Kath’s vehicle, 9-year-old Holly Schultis of Pardeeville, was flown from the scene to the Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee. The crash remains under investigation.
Clean Up Could Start Soon in Columbus
5/14/09 - The on-scene investigation has been completed at Columbus Chemical Industries and now the cleanup process can begin. Authorities still don’t have a cause of the fire, which accompanied three large explosions Monday night. Officials say they’ll be meeting with the owners of the property and signing the scene back over to them so that the private contractors they’ve hired can begin the cleanup process. As of 6pm last night, the fire at the building continued to smolder, and because of strong winds, Emergency Management officials asked three businesses and six homes be voluntarily evacuated. Despite that, air monitoring tests still don’t show any hazardous materials.
GB “Tailgate Tour” Tonight
5/14/09 - The Green Bay Packers “Tailgate Tour” rolls into Beaver Dam tonight. Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins, linebacker Brady Poppinga and wide receiver Jordy Nelson will join President and CEO Mark Murphy at the Beaver Dam High School tonight. The event will include a questions and answer portion with the players, an autograph session, and authentic Lambeau Field tailgating food. Gates at the football field will open at 5pm with the actual tailgate running 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Rechecks Food Pride or the Beaver Dam Piggly Wiggly. All proceeds will go to the Beaver Dam Scholarship Foundation.
Smoking Ban Passes Legislature
5/14/09 - Both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature approved a public indoor smoking ban yesterday, and Governor Jim Doyle promises to sign it. He wanted it to start sooner than the agreed-upon date of July fifth of 2010. But Doyle said he’s proud that Wisconsin is quote, “embracing the healthy direction the world is going.” He said the ban would save lives and health costs, and improve public health throughout the state. The Senate okayed the ban 25-to-8. The only Democrat to vote no, Kathleen Vinehout of Alma, said it would unfairly interfere with small business decisions. The Assembly vote was 61-to-38, with all but six no votes coming from Republicans. Abbotsford Republican Scott Suder said bars in northern Wisconsin would go out of business. But Madison Democrat Spencer Black said closings have not happened in his city, or in the 36 others which have passed local smoking bans. Those bans would be snuffed out once the statewide ban takes effect.
Lawmakers tried-but-failed to pass dozens of exceptions to the smoking ban. One to let hotels designate rooms for smokers had passed in the Senate, until one of the yes voters changed his mind. The ban’s supporters said any changes might have derailed the entire bill. It failed to pass for years until a compromise was finally struck last week between health groups, the Tavern League, and others. The delay in starting the ban will give bars time to adjust their businesses, and create outdoor smoking areas. Cigar bars and Indian casinos will be exempt. Fines for violators will be 100-to-250-dollars after first-time warnings are issued.
Gokey Knocked Out of American Idol
5/14/09 - Wisconsin’s first “American Idol” finalist will finish third. Danny Gokey of Milwaukee received the lowest number of viewer votes this week, and was sent home at the end of last night’s one-hour results show on Fox. That leaves Adam Lambert of San Diego and Kris Allen of Conway Arkansas to compete for the Idol crown in next week’s two-part finale. All three sang a pair of songs this week. Gokey closed with the Joe Cocker ballad “You Are So Beautiful,” which judge Simon Cowell called “brilliant.” By making the final three, Gokey was treated to a day of praise and celebrity-style appearances in his hometown. Over 25-thousand people saw him sing at a free concert last Friday at Milwaukee’s Summerfest grounds. The 29-year-old Gokey touched viewers right from get-go this season with his talent – his religious background with Milwaukee’s Faith Builders International – and the fact that his wife Sophia died just weeks before he auditioned. She encouraged him to try out. Gokey told reporters in Milwaukee last week he’d be fine if he got voted off. He said the show has opened up great doors for him, and he’s thankful he got so far.
More People Eligible for Unemployment Benefits
5/14/09 - An estimated three-thousand Wisconsinites a year will become eligible for unemployment benefits under changes approved by the Legislature yesterday. The Senate voted 25-to-8, and the Assembly voted 87-to-11, to expand the eligibility for benefits – so the state can receive 89-million dollars in federal stimulus funds. Those who quit their jobs to relocate with a spouse would become eligible for unemployment pay – along with those caring for sick relatives and those who fear domestic abuse. Also, workers in certain training programs could get an extra seven weeks of jobless pay, for a total of 79. Some Republicans said the measure would force businesses to pay higher unemployment taxes once the stimulus money goes away. But Democratic finance chairman Mark Pocan says it’s more important to get the aid to those who need it – and lawmakers can deal with any long-term impact later. Governor Jim Doyle promises to sign the measure. He says it will quote, “provide a little extra help for the unemployed in these tough times.”
Class Project Leads to Arrest
5/14/09 - A classroom exercise in Green Bay turned into a real-life arrest. A female student at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College created an on-line profile of a 14-year-old girl for a criminal justice lesson on computer crimes. And police said a 66-year-old Mukwonago man contacted her almost right away. Investigators said their Internet chat turned to sex. And when he said he wanted to meet her, police were on hand to arrest him when he knocked on her door. Prosecutors are still waiting for all the evidence. They’re considering charges of using a computer for a sex crime, and attempted child sexual assault. A bond hearing was held for the suspect yesterday. He was freed on a five-thousand-dollar bond.
Powerball Up to $150M
5/14/09 - Nobody won the Powerball jackpot last night, so it goes up to 150-million dollars for the next drawing on Saturday. Wisconsin players did not have much luck, as the most anybody won was 300-dollars. Four players got that by matching four regular numbers with the Power Play option. And seven others had three plus the Powerball with the Power Play. Just over 28-thousand others in Wisconsin won 100-dollars or less last night. The numbers were 19, 30, 32, 37, and 40. The Powerball was 37, and the Power Play multiplier was three. The current jackpot has been building since April eighth. It’s the third time this year it has hit 150-million. Saturday’s cash option will be just over 76-million dollars for a single winner who takes the whole prize now instead of in 30 annual installments.
Swine Flu in Northern Dodge County
5/14/09 - Health officials in Dodge County are reporting their first case of swine flu. Public Health officer Jody Langfeldt says a county resident has been confirmed to have the H1N1 virus. Langfeldt would not say if the infected individual is an adult or child, a male or a female, but she did say the person resides in the northern portion of the county. The news out of Dodge County comes one day after two cases of swine flu were reported in Columbia County.
Delinquent Mowing Fees Could Double in BD
5/14/09 - If the city of Beaver Dam has to mow your lawn this year, it you might be charged twice what it cost last year. City Parks and Forestry Supervisor John Neumann told the Beaver Dam Operations Committee this week that there was only one bid received this year for non-compliant weed and grass cutting services. The bid was from K-5 Services of Horicon for $100 per hour, which is twice the amount of the previous contractor who - after 15 years with the city – decided not submit a bid. Committee members were reluctant to add the additional cost burden onto local residents given the current economy and some suggested hiring additional, part-time seasonal employees. But Neumann said that would not be practical. In addition to the charge for grass cutting services, property owners in violation of the city weed ordinance face a $20 administrative fee and fines ranging from $100 to $400 per violation. The city spent $10,000 in contractor fees last year. The city recoups 100% of those costs through billing; first directly to the property owner and, if needed, onto their property tax bill. The bid was approved by a 4 to 2 vote and now heads to the full council for consideration later this month.
National Tourism Week
5/14/09 - As part of National Tourism Week, the Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce hosted a presentation from the region’s state tourism representative. David Spiegelberg told local business owners the tourism office is adapting to recent changes in the economy. The Tourism Department recently had to cut $1.7 million from their $11 million dollar budget. Officials met the mandate by closing all eight of the state’s Welcome Centers. Spiegelberg told the group yesterday that he knows Dodge County businesses rely on pamphlets to be distributed at those locations, so they are working with local Commerce officials in places like Racine, La Crosse and Beloit to staff those unmanned centers. Statewide, tourism spending was up nearly three percent last year, a pleasant surprise for tourism officials Spiegelberg says, especially given the price of gas, damaging weather and a terrible fourth quarter. Tourism spending in Dodge County was down less that one percent last year, after a robust 2007, with over $86.1 million dollars brought in. Given the current state of the economy, Spiegelberg says the buzz word for ’09 is collaboration. Specifically, he says, various tourism entities need to pool their resources, in areas like advertising, to weather tough economic times.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Top Stories May 13th
One H1N1 Flu Case Confirmed in Dodge County
5/13/09 - Health officials in Dodge County are reporting their first case of swine flu. Public Health officer Jody Langfeldt announced today that a county resident has been confirmed to have the H1N1 virus. No other details have been released. The news out of Dodge County comes one day after two cases of swine flu were reported in Columbia County. Health Officer Susan Lorenz says the laboratory-reported cases indicate that H1N1 is active in the county. The confirmed cases involve children from Columbia County who are students at Lakeside Lutheran and Deforest Middle School. Lorenz says school closures are not being advised unless a large number of faculty or students are absent and their absences interfere with the school’s ability to function.
Columbus Clean Up Continues
5/13/09 - The state fire marshal’s office is starting to investigate Monday night’s fire-and-explosions that destroyed a storage building at Columbus Chemical Industries. But with rain in the forecast for Columbus, Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says officials are checking whether it’s safe to enter the burned-out facility – because some of the chemicals react negatively to water.
The company has hired North-shore Environmental of Germantown to handle the environmental aspects of the clean-up. The Madison firm of B-T Squared will monitor gases in-and-near the hottest areas, and they’ll test water wells. The federal E-P-A will also keep testing area wells to make sure the area’s drinking water remains safe.
Meanwhile, Dodge County Emergency Management Director Joe Meagher says they are keeping residents around the site appraised of what’s going on and says they haven’t ruled out the possibility of having to move people out of the area with the wind in the picking up. However, he says right now the air monitoring shows no dangerous pollution levels and there have no been no ill health effects from the smoky fire and its aftermath.
Officials from CCI have established a claims center for the public. If you have incurred damages or expenses as a result of the Monday night’s fire, please call 866 298-2658 to report your claim.
Meagher Says Emergency Responders Were Prepared
5/13/09 - Dodge County Emergency Management Director Joe Meagher says the Columbus chemical fire provided a hands-on learning experience for local emergency responders. He says the training his department and others in Dodge County have undertaken with each other in table-top exercises and simulations contributed to the success of the response. Emergency responders can’t plan for everything, but Meagher says because they build their scenarios around real life situations, emergency officials were prepared for many of the challenges they faced in the past couple days.
Swine Flu At Lakeside Lutheran
5/13/09 - Two cases of swine flu have been reported in Columbia County. According to Health Officer Susan Lorenz, the laboratory-reported cases indicate that H1N1 is active in the county. The confirmed cases involve a student at the Deforest Middle School and another at Lakeside Lutheran. Lorenz says school closures are not being advised unless a large number of faculty or students are absent and their absences interfere with the school’s ability to function.
Former Alderman Was Arrested For Taking Weapons From Suspected Outhouse Bombers
5/13/09 - Former Beaver Dam Alderman Clancy Knaup has a two-day jury trial scheduled next week on charges related to the alleged theft of guns from one of his tenants last year. The 33-year-old is also accused of stealing ammunition, bolt cutters, knives and body armor from the teenage tenant. At the time of the incident, Knaup told us his other tenants were scared by the “gun-wielding” teens and he was acting in their best interest when he took possession of the weapons. Attorney’s for Knaup filed a motion last week seeking to allow new evidence involving the alleged victim of the gun theft. It turns out, 19-year-old Stephen Peterson is one of three suspects in the recent bombings of a mailbox in Burnett and a port-a-potty at Lost Lake Park. Investigators say they used pipe bombs and, in the case of the outhouse, also used liquefied gas.
The motion also states that Peterson damaged the apartment he rented from Knaup, by shooting bullets into the walls. Knaup, in fact, denies that he was trespassing. In the motion, Knaup says he learned Peterson was slowly destroying the interior of the apartment and placed a notice on his door stating that he would be exercising his right to inspect the dwelling. Knaup says he made the decision to go into the apartment after hearing more tenant complaints regarding Peterson’s “continued, frightening conduct.” Knaup was arrested that same night and charged with one count of Disorderly Conduct and one count of Criminal Trespass. The motion hearing is scheduled for this Friday. The two-day jury trial is scheduled to begin next Thursday.
Fox Lake RDA Narrowly Approves Land Transfer
5/13/09 - After heated debate, the Fox Lake Redevelopment Authority last night narrowly approved a transfer of land in the Industrial Park to the city. The land is needed to construct a court-mandated water basin that will be only used in instances of extreme flooding. A 2007 Department of Justice court order was issued followed heavy flooding that occurred in April of 2004 resulting in wastewater bypassing the treatment plant and settling into surrounding wetlands. The city is planning to construct a wastewater storage basin and implement other sewer replacement or repair projects as part of the court order. The total cost is estimated at $1.8 million, paid for with low-interest federal loans and utility fee increases. Opponents of the land transfer cited the estimated $52 utility fee increase over eight years in raising objections to the plan. Authority member Tim Streich compared the proposed solution to putting a pail under a leak and said taxpayers can’t afford to throw their money down a hole. But Craig Kunkel of Kunkel Engineering stressed that alternatives to the mandate would cost taxpayers even more money. Kunkel said if the Authority were to have voted against the transfer, he would recommend the council move forward with condemnation proceedings and take the land. The vote was 4 to 2.
5/13/09 - Health officials in Dodge County are reporting their first case of swine flu. Public Health officer Jody Langfeldt announced today that a county resident has been confirmed to have the H1N1 virus. No other details have been released. The news out of Dodge County comes one day after two cases of swine flu were reported in Columbia County. Health Officer Susan Lorenz says the laboratory-reported cases indicate that H1N1 is active in the county. The confirmed cases involve children from Columbia County who are students at Lakeside Lutheran and Deforest Middle School. Lorenz says school closures are not being advised unless a large number of faculty or students are absent and their absences interfere with the school’s ability to function.
Columbus Clean Up Continues
5/13/09 - The state fire marshal’s office is starting to investigate Monday night’s fire-and-explosions that destroyed a storage building at Columbus Chemical Industries. But with rain in the forecast for Columbus, Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says officials are checking whether it’s safe to enter the burned-out facility – because some of the chemicals react negatively to water.
The company has hired North-shore Environmental of Germantown to handle the environmental aspects of the clean-up. The Madison firm of B-T Squared will monitor gases in-and-near the hottest areas, and they’ll test water wells. The federal E-P-A will also keep testing area wells to make sure the area’s drinking water remains safe.
Meanwhile, Dodge County Emergency Management Director Joe Meagher says they are keeping residents around the site appraised of what’s going on and says they haven’t ruled out the possibility of having to move people out of the area with the wind in the picking up. However, he says right now the air monitoring shows no dangerous pollution levels and there have no been no ill health effects from the smoky fire and its aftermath.
Officials from CCI have established a claims center for the public. If you have incurred damages or expenses as a result of the Monday night’s fire, please call 866 298-2658 to report your claim.
Meagher Says Emergency Responders Were Prepared
5/13/09 - Dodge County Emergency Management Director Joe Meagher says the Columbus chemical fire provided a hands-on learning experience for local emergency responders. He says the training his department and others in Dodge County have undertaken with each other in table-top exercises and simulations contributed to the success of the response. Emergency responders can’t plan for everything, but Meagher says because they build their scenarios around real life situations, emergency officials were prepared for many of the challenges they faced in the past couple days.
Swine Flu At Lakeside Lutheran
5/13/09 - Two cases of swine flu have been reported in Columbia County. According to Health Officer Susan Lorenz, the laboratory-reported cases indicate that H1N1 is active in the county. The confirmed cases involve a student at the Deforest Middle School and another at Lakeside Lutheran. Lorenz says school closures are not being advised unless a large number of faculty or students are absent and their absences interfere with the school’s ability to function.
Former Alderman Was Arrested For Taking Weapons From Suspected Outhouse Bombers
5/13/09 - Former Beaver Dam Alderman Clancy Knaup has a two-day jury trial scheduled next week on charges related to the alleged theft of guns from one of his tenants last year. The 33-year-old is also accused of stealing ammunition, bolt cutters, knives and body armor from the teenage tenant. At the time of the incident, Knaup told us his other tenants were scared by the “gun-wielding” teens and he was acting in their best interest when he took possession of the weapons. Attorney’s for Knaup filed a motion last week seeking to allow new evidence involving the alleged victim of the gun theft. It turns out, 19-year-old Stephen Peterson is one of three suspects in the recent bombings of a mailbox in Burnett and a port-a-potty at Lost Lake Park. Investigators say they used pipe bombs and, in the case of the outhouse, also used liquefied gas.
The motion also states that Peterson damaged the apartment he rented from Knaup, by shooting bullets into the walls. Knaup, in fact, denies that he was trespassing. In the motion, Knaup says he learned Peterson was slowly destroying the interior of the apartment and placed a notice on his door stating that he would be exercising his right to inspect the dwelling. Knaup says he made the decision to go into the apartment after hearing more tenant complaints regarding Peterson’s “continued, frightening conduct.” Knaup was arrested that same night and charged with one count of Disorderly Conduct and one count of Criminal Trespass. The motion hearing is scheduled for this Friday. The two-day jury trial is scheduled to begin next Thursday.
Fox Lake RDA Narrowly Approves Land Transfer
5/13/09 - After heated debate, the Fox Lake Redevelopment Authority last night narrowly approved a transfer of land in the Industrial Park to the city. The land is needed to construct a court-mandated water basin that will be only used in instances of extreme flooding. A 2007 Department of Justice court order was issued followed heavy flooding that occurred in April of 2004 resulting in wastewater bypassing the treatment plant and settling into surrounding wetlands. The city is planning to construct a wastewater storage basin and implement other sewer replacement or repair projects as part of the court order. The total cost is estimated at $1.8 million, paid for with low-interest federal loans and utility fee increases. Opponents of the land transfer cited the estimated $52 utility fee increase over eight years in raising objections to the plan. Authority member Tim Streich compared the proposed solution to putting a pail under a leak and said taxpayers can’t afford to throw their money down a hole. But Craig Kunkel of Kunkel Engineering stressed that alternatives to the mandate would cost taxpayers even more money. Kunkel said if the Authority were to have voted against the transfer, he would recommend the council move forward with condemnation proceedings and take the land. The vote was 4 to 2.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Top Stories May 11th and 12th
Update: Columbus Returning To Normal
5/12/09 - Authorities say that all residents in the Columbus-area are now allowed to return to their homes. Around 150 people were displaced after a series of explosions at Columbus Chemical Industries last night. In addition, power is being restored to all homes and businesses in the area, except the chemical plant. Orders for other residents in the area to “shelter-in-place” have been discontinued, meaning folks in Fall River can once again open their windows and doors without worry of a toxic cloud making them ill. The EPA and Public Health Department have also determined that air and water are safe outside the perimeter of the Columbus Chemical grounds. Authorities tell us that the EPA will continue to test wells in the area for the next few weeks to assure that the water remains safe. Highway 73 was opened to traffic at 4pm. Highway 151 was opened up around 11am this morning. Tomorrow morning, agents from the State Fire Marshal’s office will begin their investigation at the scene to determine the cause of the fire. They will be assisted by Department of Criminal Investigations, and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities also says that Columbus Chemical has hired a contractor - Northshore Environmental - to provide environmental clean-up. They will be assisted by BT Square who will provide quad-gas monitoring inside and outside the hot zone. Fire crews first arrived at Columbus Chemical Industries at about 8pm Monday night. They came in response to an alarm at the plant. After they arrived, a series of explosions made them fall back and let the facility burn until early this morning. Two minor injuries were reported to area firefighters.
Spokesperson Says Plant Receiving Regular Inspections
5/12/09 - Last night’s chemical fire and explosions was a shock to the fifty-five employees at Columbus Chemical. Company attorney, Tom Godar, offered background on the thirty year-old business located between highway 73 and the Crawfish River on Temkin Road. At the time of the fire no one was at work so there were no injuries. Godar said that the chemicals in the main building were primarily petroleum based and hydrochloric acid. The 55 employees have been notified they should stay away from the scene until emergency crews clear the area. Columbus Chemical had been receiving regular inspections and they recently became ISO certified as a safe work environment.
Less Than a Year After Floods Emergency Management Needed in Columbus Again
5/12/09 - The Columbus chemical fire and evacuation comes less than one year after the catastrophic floods. During those floods, disciplinary actions by then Mayor Nancy Osterhaus resulted in suspensions of Emergency Management Co-Directors Bob Zapotocny and Bill Kleutzman and the city hasn’t had a permanent replacement since. Two weeks ago, newly elected mayor Bob Link appointed former Police Chief Gerald Sallmann in an interim capacity until a permanent replacement can be found. Sallmann has experience in the position having served in the position while chief. Link says Sallmann has been invaluable since he assumed the interim position.
WI 2nd in Nation for H1N1 Flu Cases
5/12/09 - Wisconsin now has the nation’s second-highest number of cases of the H-1-N-1 flu virus. State health officials reported 414 confirmed cases yesterday, along with 35 probable ones. Only Illinois has more instances of the swine flu, with 487 confirmed. And by all indications, Wisconsin will soon have more flu cases. That’s because Milwaukee County – which keeps its own numbers – had 319 confirmed cases yesterday, while the state only recorded 231 for that location. The state and county release their numbers at different times – and that’s one major reason for the discrepancy. Nationally, there are over 25-hundred cases of what the World Health Organization calls Influenza-“A.” Three Americans have died from it. Still, there are no reported cases of the virus in Dodge County
Farmers Facing Animal Mistreatment Charges
5/12/09 - Two brothers in Lomira face felony Animal Mistreatment charges after authorities found what they described as an “appalling” and “abusive situation” at their seven acre farm. 40-year-old Harvey Buchholz and 35-year-old Heath Buchholz are each charged with four felony counts each of Mistreatment of Animals Causing Death. Authorities say they found dairy cows, calves, steer and sheep sick – bellowing with hunger -- with inadequate food, water and bedding. According to the criminal complaint, there were dead animal carcasses strewn all over the barnyard. The remaining animals were covered in mange, with open sores and visible bones and ribs. A veterinarian brought in to assess the conditions said he was “appalled by the total lack of husbandry… and disregard for the welfare of the animals.” The brothers were given several weeks to address the situation this January. They denied that financial troubles lead to the conditions. They now each face up to 14 years in prison if convicted on each count. The Buchholz brothers each had a signature bond set at $1000 and they will be back in court later this month.
Woman Gets Probation for Smuggling Marijuana into Prison
5/12/09 - A Milwaukee woman was placed on probation for two years for attempting to smuggle marijuana into the Waupun Correctional Institution inside a candy wrapper. Debi N. Sanders pleaded “no contest” to reduced obstruction and drug possession charges and was placed on deferred prosecution on a second felony count of Delivering Illegal Articles to Inmates. The 25-year-old told authorities in February that she found the candy at the bottom of a vending machine and thought her incarcerated brother would like it. Sanders also had her license suspended for six months.
Plank Found Innocent
5/11/09 - An Iron Ridge man charged with molesting a young teenage girl has been found innocent. 47-year-old Mark Plank, a prior sex offender, was found innocent by a Dodge County jury after a two-day trial last week. Plank had been accused of entering the room of his girlfriend’s daughter and touching her inappropriately last June. During his testimony, Plank stated that he had thought about touching the girl but was afraid that she would tell on him. Attorney Bob Barrington with the District Attorney’s office says they are disappointed with the outcome but they knew a conviction would difficult without the girl’s mother supporting her testimony. Plank was convicted in 1994 on charges of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child and was sentenced to 10 years probation. In 1999, he was ordered to serve an eight year prison sentence after his probation was revoked.
Remediation Work Begins in Downtown BD
5/11/09 - Remediation work on the downtown Beaver Dam redevelopment project gets underway today. Mayor Tom Kennedy says the remediation activity will include the removal of asbestos, lead paint and other hazardous materials in the ten buildings that will be razed on South Center and Front Streets. The buildings are located in a flood zone over the Beaver Dam River. The remediation process, being contracted by A & A Environmental of Poynette, will last approximately two weeks. Industrial Service Company of Chicago will perform the demolition work, with initial work slated to begin May 18. The first to fall will be the Celestial building followed by the former Julie R Danceware during the week of May 25. From there demolition will progress to the 100 block of Front Street before finishing with the five buildings on the 200 block of Front Street. Kennedy says motorists and pedestrians can expect portions of the parking lanes and sidewalks adjacent to the project to be closed during the project. There will also be a 15-mph speed limit in the project zone. Work is expected to be finished by July 31st. A Downtown Redevelopment Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 22 at 11am on the 100 block of South Center Street.
Fox Lake Sewer Rates To Increase $52 Over Eight Years
5/11/09 - The City of Fox Lake has requested DNR approval to begin work on court-mandated sewer system improvements. The 2007 Department of Justice court order was issued followed heavy flooding that occurred in April of 2004 resulting in wastewater bypassing the treatment plant and settling into surrounding wetlands. The city is planning to construct a wastewater storage basin and other sewer replacement or repair projects as part of the court order. The storage basin will be located on six acres in the southeast corner of the Industrial Park. The open earthen lagoon would have a storage capacity of seven million gallons. The city would also repair, replace or extend nearly 14,000 feet of sewer as part of a series of separate construction projects beginning next year. The improvements are needed to replace aging sewers and to eliminate existing sewer capacity and overflow problems. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.8 million, paid for with federal grant funding and utility fee increases. Beginning in 2011, the typical residential utility customer in Fox Lake will see their rate increase from $79 to $131 by the year 2018. The estimate also includes an expected upgrade to the city’s wastewater treatment facility. The DNR is accepting written or oral comments on the project through May 22. Contact information: Tom Gilbert, Wastewater Facility Planning Coordinator, 101 South Webster Street, Madison. By phone at (608) 267-7628 or by email at tom.gilbert@wisconsin.gov.
Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy Week 8: Fire and EMT Training
5/11/09 - The Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy held a recent session 90 feet above the city. It was part of the Fire and EMT Training session of the 10-week course. The fourteen citizen cadets were able to don turnout gear, drive an ambulance, test fire hoses and ride the fire trucks ladder into the skies above Beaver Dam. Citizen Cadet Terri Heiling says the class has been a real learning experience. Heiling, the wife of a Beaver Dam firefighter, says she has gained new insight into the hard work of emergency responders. The Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy will graduate its fifth class of citizen cadets on May 20. Pictured: Citizen Cadets Lisa Narr (left) and Terri Heiling (right) learn about the ladder from a Beaver Dam firefighter.
BDCH Nurses Raise $5K in 5K Race
5/11/09 - The nurses of the Beaver Dam Community Hospital raised over $5500 this weekend. The 5K Challenge Nurses Run-Walk-Roll had 120 participants Saturday morning. Hospital President Kim Miller says the money raised will benefit the Beaver Dam Hospital Foundation to fund scholarships for those entering the healthcare field. Donations are still being accepted through the Beaver Dam Hospital Foundation.
Confirmed Cases of H1N1 Virus Continue to Rise
5/11/09 - We could find out today if Wisconsin’s latest flu bug is leveling off. As of Friday, state officials have confirmed 298 cases of the H-1-N-1 virus – about 60 more than the previous day. The numbers rose faster after state labs started doing their own tests, instead of sending samples to national health officials in Atlanta. Milwaukee County continues to have more than half the state’s cases of swine flu – 159 as of Friday. Meanwhile, companies that make hygiene products have had a booming business lately. Kimberly-Clark, which employs four-thousand people in the Fox Valley, has been selling more face-masks – especially to health care providers. Companies have also had higher sales of latex gloves, hand sanitizers, and anti-bacterial soaps.
Legislators Will Look at Their Budget Too
5/11/09 - Wisconsin legislators don’t have to cut a dime from their budget. But their leaders are talking about it anyway, to help cover a deficit which has grown to around six-and-a-half billion dollars. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan will wait until the official estimate of the new deficit comes out this week from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. But his spokeswoman Rebekah Sweeney is talking about “serious cutbacks” in the Assembly. Last week, Governor Jim Doyle said state employees would be furloughed for 16 days without pay during the next two years – up to 11-hundred workers would be laid off – and most others would have two-percent pay raises rescinded. Sweeney says lawmakers might get their daily expense budgets reduced. And for their staff members, there’s talk of layoffs, furloughs, and pay cuts.
BDUSD Announces Employees of the Year
5/11/09 - The Beaver Dam School District has announced its 2008-2009 Employees of the Year. Winning the Elementary School Teacher of the Year was Rose Paetzke, a kindergarten teacher at Washington, while six teachers earned the honor for the middle school. Those are Jessica Greatens, Jen Heffron, Aaryn Miller, Shelly Stelsel, and Kerry Stoehr. Meanwhile, English teacher Jena Berg earned the honor at the high school. Retiring Middle School Principal Rich Brouillard was named the Administrator of the Year, while Roaynne Moon was awarded as the Special Services Teacher of the Year for her work with literacy support and Title One at the middle school. Trenton Elementary Schools Terri Wilber was named the Secretary of the Year, while at Lincoln Elementary Sharon Stratton was honored as the Food Service Worker of the Year. Winning the Teaching Assistant/Tutor award was Kathy Laatsch who works as the ELL Tutor at the Trenton and Washington Elementary Schools. Middle School custodian Shawn Buchda was honored with the Custodial/Maintenance/Computer Technician of the Year award. All the winners will be recognized at the District’s Recognition Banquet to be held on May 17th.
Powerball Up to $129M
5/11/09 - Wednesday night's Powerball jackpot is 129-million-dollars. Nobody won the top prize on Saturday night. And nobody from Wisconsin won the second prize, either. The cash option on Wednesday is 65-million-dollars, which goes to a single winner who takes the whole prize now instead of in 30 annual installments.
Man Picks Up 7th OWI
5/11/09 - A man sentenced to 28-months in jail earlier this decade could be on his way back. That’s after 40-year-old Michael Bushke was picked up for his 7th OWI Saturday night. Authorities say a tip led them to 112 West Maple Street in Beaver Dam where they arrested Bushke on suspicion of drunk driving. Authorities also cited Bushke for operating on a revoked license. In 2004, Bushke was sent to prison on charges stemming from his 6th OWI.
5/12/09 - Authorities say that all residents in the Columbus-area are now allowed to return to their homes. Around 150 people were displaced after a series of explosions at Columbus Chemical Industries last night. In addition, power is being restored to all homes and businesses in the area, except the chemical plant. Orders for other residents in the area to “shelter-in-place” have been discontinued, meaning folks in Fall River can once again open their windows and doors without worry of a toxic cloud making them ill. The EPA and Public Health Department have also determined that air and water are safe outside the perimeter of the Columbus Chemical grounds. Authorities tell us that the EPA will continue to test wells in the area for the next few weeks to assure that the water remains safe. Highway 73 was opened to traffic at 4pm. Highway 151 was opened up around 11am this morning. Tomorrow morning, agents from the State Fire Marshal’s office will begin their investigation at the scene to determine the cause of the fire. They will be assisted by Department of Criminal Investigations, and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities also says that Columbus Chemical has hired a contractor - Northshore Environmental - to provide environmental clean-up. They will be assisted by BT Square who will provide quad-gas monitoring inside and outside the hot zone. Fire crews first arrived at Columbus Chemical Industries at about 8pm Monday night. They came in response to an alarm at the plant. After they arrived, a series of explosions made them fall back and let the facility burn until early this morning. Two minor injuries were reported to area firefighters.
Spokesperson Says Plant Receiving Regular Inspections
5/12/09 - Last night’s chemical fire and explosions was a shock to the fifty-five employees at Columbus Chemical. Company attorney, Tom Godar, offered background on the thirty year-old business located between highway 73 and the Crawfish River on Temkin Road. At the time of the fire no one was at work so there were no injuries. Godar said that the chemicals in the main building were primarily petroleum based and hydrochloric acid. The 55 employees have been notified they should stay away from the scene until emergency crews clear the area. Columbus Chemical had been receiving regular inspections and they recently became ISO certified as a safe work environment.
Less Than a Year After Floods Emergency Management Needed in Columbus Again
5/12/09 - The Columbus chemical fire and evacuation comes less than one year after the catastrophic floods. During those floods, disciplinary actions by then Mayor Nancy Osterhaus resulted in suspensions of Emergency Management Co-Directors Bob Zapotocny and Bill Kleutzman and the city hasn’t had a permanent replacement since. Two weeks ago, newly elected mayor Bob Link appointed former Police Chief Gerald Sallmann in an interim capacity until a permanent replacement can be found. Sallmann has experience in the position having served in the position while chief. Link says Sallmann has been invaluable since he assumed the interim position.
WI 2nd in Nation for H1N1 Flu Cases
5/12/09 - Wisconsin now has the nation’s second-highest number of cases of the H-1-N-1 flu virus. State health officials reported 414 confirmed cases yesterday, along with 35 probable ones. Only Illinois has more instances of the swine flu, with 487 confirmed. And by all indications, Wisconsin will soon have more flu cases. That’s because Milwaukee County – which keeps its own numbers – had 319 confirmed cases yesterday, while the state only recorded 231 for that location. The state and county release their numbers at different times – and that’s one major reason for the discrepancy. Nationally, there are over 25-hundred cases of what the World Health Organization calls Influenza-“A.” Three Americans have died from it. Still, there are no reported cases of the virus in Dodge County
Farmers Facing Animal Mistreatment Charges
5/12/09 - Two brothers in Lomira face felony Animal Mistreatment charges after authorities found what they described as an “appalling” and “abusive situation” at their seven acre farm. 40-year-old Harvey Buchholz and 35-year-old Heath Buchholz are each charged with four felony counts each of Mistreatment of Animals Causing Death. Authorities say they found dairy cows, calves, steer and sheep sick – bellowing with hunger -- with inadequate food, water and bedding. According to the criminal complaint, there were dead animal carcasses strewn all over the barnyard. The remaining animals were covered in mange, with open sores and visible bones and ribs. A veterinarian brought in to assess the conditions said he was “appalled by the total lack of husbandry… and disregard for the welfare of the animals.” The brothers were given several weeks to address the situation this January. They denied that financial troubles lead to the conditions. They now each face up to 14 years in prison if convicted on each count. The Buchholz brothers each had a signature bond set at $1000 and they will be back in court later this month.
Woman Gets Probation for Smuggling Marijuana into Prison
5/12/09 - A Milwaukee woman was placed on probation for two years for attempting to smuggle marijuana into the Waupun Correctional Institution inside a candy wrapper. Debi N. Sanders pleaded “no contest” to reduced obstruction and drug possession charges and was placed on deferred prosecution on a second felony count of Delivering Illegal Articles to Inmates. The 25-year-old told authorities in February that she found the candy at the bottom of a vending machine and thought her incarcerated brother would like it. Sanders also had her license suspended for six months.
Plank Found Innocent
5/11/09 - An Iron Ridge man charged with molesting a young teenage girl has been found innocent. 47-year-old Mark Plank, a prior sex offender, was found innocent by a Dodge County jury after a two-day trial last week. Plank had been accused of entering the room of his girlfriend’s daughter and touching her inappropriately last June. During his testimony, Plank stated that he had thought about touching the girl but was afraid that she would tell on him. Attorney Bob Barrington with the District Attorney’s office says they are disappointed with the outcome but they knew a conviction would difficult without the girl’s mother supporting her testimony. Plank was convicted in 1994 on charges of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child and was sentenced to 10 years probation. In 1999, he was ordered to serve an eight year prison sentence after his probation was revoked.
Remediation Work Begins in Downtown BD
5/11/09 - Remediation work on the downtown Beaver Dam redevelopment project gets underway today. Mayor Tom Kennedy says the remediation activity will include the removal of asbestos, lead paint and other hazardous materials in the ten buildings that will be razed on South Center and Front Streets. The buildings are located in a flood zone over the Beaver Dam River. The remediation process, being contracted by A & A Environmental of Poynette, will last approximately two weeks. Industrial Service Company of Chicago will perform the demolition work, with initial work slated to begin May 18. The first to fall will be the Celestial building followed by the former Julie R Danceware during the week of May 25. From there demolition will progress to the 100 block of Front Street before finishing with the five buildings on the 200 block of Front Street. Kennedy says motorists and pedestrians can expect portions of the parking lanes and sidewalks adjacent to the project to be closed during the project. There will also be a 15-mph speed limit in the project zone. Work is expected to be finished by July 31st. A Downtown Redevelopment Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 22 at 11am on the 100 block of South Center Street.
Fox Lake Sewer Rates To Increase $52 Over Eight Years
5/11/09 - The City of Fox Lake has requested DNR approval to begin work on court-mandated sewer system improvements. The 2007 Department of Justice court order was issued followed heavy flooding that occurred in April of 2004 resulting in wastewater bypassing the treatment plant and settling into surrounding wetlands. The city is planning to construct a wastewater storage basin and other sewer replacement or repair projects as part of the court order. The storage basin will be located on six acres in the southeast corner of the Industrial Park. The open earthen lagoon would have a storage capacity of seven million gallons. The city would also repair, replace or extend nearly 14,000 feet of sewer as part of a series of separate construction projects beginning next year. The improvements are needed to replace aging sewers and to eliminate existing sewer capacity and overflow problems. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.8 million, paid for with federal grant funding and utility fee increases. Beginning in 2011, the typical residential utility customer in Fox Lake will see their rate increase from $79 to $131 by the year 2018. The estimate also includes an expected upgrade to the city’s wastewater treatment facility. The DNR is accepting written or oral comments on the project through May 22. Contact information: Tom Gilbert, Wastewater Facility Planning Coordinator, 101 South Webster Street, Madison. By phone at (608) 267-7628 or by email at tom.gilbert@wisconsin.gov.
Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy Week 8: Fire and EMT Training
5/11/09 - The Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy held a recent session 90 feet above the city. It was part of the Fire and EMT Training session of the 10-week course. The fourteen citizen cadets were able to don turnout gear, drive an ambulance, test fire hoses and ride the fire trucks ladder into the skies above Beaver Dam. Citizen Cadet Terri Heiling says the class has been a real learning experience. Heiling, the wife of a Beaver Dam firefighter, says she has gained new insight into the hard work of emergency responders. The Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy will graduate its fifth class of citizen cadets on May 20. Pictured: Citizen Cadets Lisa Narr (left) and Terri Heiling (right) learn about the ladder from a Beaver Dam firefighter.
BDCH Nurses Raise $5K in 5K Race
5/11/09 - The nurses of the Beaver Dam Community Hospital raised over $5500 this weekend. The 5K Challenge Nurses Run-Walk-Roll had 120 participants Saturday morning. Hospital President Kim Miller says the money raised will benefit the Beaver Dam Hospital Foundation to fund scholarships for those entering the healthcare field. Donations are still being accepted through the Beaver Dam Hospital Foundation.
Confirmed Cases of H1N1 Virus Continue to Rise
5/11/09 - We could find out today if Wisconsin’s latest flu bug is leveling off. As of Friday, state officials have confirmed 298 cases of the H-1-N-1 virus – about 60 more than the previous day. The numbers rose faster after state labs started doing their own tests, instead of sending samples to national health officials in Atlanta. Milwaukee County continues to have more than half the state’s cases of swine flu – 159 as of Friday. Meanwhile, companies that make hygiene products have had a booming business lately. Kimberly-Clark, which employs four-thousand people in the Fox Valley, has been selling more face-masks – especially to health care providers. Companies have also had higher sales of latex gloves, hand sanitizers, and anti-bacterial soaps.
Legislators Will Look at Their Budget Too
5/11/09 - Wisconsin legislators don’t have to cut a dime from their budget. But their leaders are talking about it anyway, to help cover a deficit which has grown to around six-and-a-half billion dollars. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan will wait until the official estimate of the new deficit comes out this week from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. But his spokeswoman Rebekah Sweeney is talking about “serious cutbacks” in the Assembly. Last week, Governor Jim Doyle said state employees would be furloughed for 16 days without pay during the next two years – up to 11-hundred workers would be laid off – and most others would have two-percent pay raises rescinded. Sweeney says lawmakers might get their daily expense budgets reduced. And for their staff members, there’s talk of layoffs, furloughs, and pay cuts.
BDUSD Announces Employees of the Year
5/11/09 - The Beaver Dam School District has announced its 2008-2009 Employees of the Year. Winning the Elementary School Teacher of the Year was Rose Paetzke, a kindergarten teacher at Washington, while six teachers earned the honor for the middle school. Those are Jessica Greatens, Jen Heffron, Aaryn Miller, Shelly Stelsel, and Kerry Stoehr. Meanwhile, English teacher Jena Berg earned the honor at the high school. Retiring Middle School Principal Rich Brouillard was named the Administrator of the Year, while Roaynne Moon was awarded as the Special Services Teacher of the Year for her work with literacy support and Title One at the middle school. Trenton Elementary Schools Terri Wilber was named the Secretary of the Year, while at Lincoln Elementary Sharon Stratton was honored as the Food Service Worker of the Year. Winning the Teaching Assistant/Tutor award was Kathy Laatsch who works as the ELL Tutor at the Trenton and Washington Elementary Schools. Middle School custodian Shawn Buchda was honored with the Custodial/Maintenance/Computer Technician of the Year award. All the winners will be recognized at the District’s Recognition Banquet to be held on May 17th.
Powerball Up to $129M
5/11/09 - Wednesday night's Powerball jackpot is 129-million-dollars. Nobody won the top prize on Saturday night. And nobody from Wisconsin won the second prize, either. The cash option on Wednesday is 65-million-dollars, which goes to a single winner who takes the whole prize now instead of in 30 annual installments.
Man Picks Up 7th OWI
5/11/09 - A man sentenced to 28-months in jail earlier this decade could be on his way back. That’s after 40-year-old Michael Bushke was picked up for his 7th OWI Saturday night. Authorities say a tip led them to 112 West Maple Street in Beaver Dam where they arrested Bushke on suspicion of drunk driving. Authorities also cited Bushke for operating on a revoked license. In 2004, Bushke was sent to prison on charges stemming from his 6th OWI.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Top Stories May 10th
Man Arrested for 7th OWI
5/10/09 - A man who served prison time earlier this decade for an assortment of drunk driving convictions was picked up for his 7th OWI Saturday night. The Dodge County Sheriffs Department says a caller reported an erratic driver just after 7pm in the Beaver Dam area. Deputies located the car at 112 West Maple Street in Beaver Dam and arrested 40-year-old Martin Bushke on suspicion of drunk driving. Authorities say Bushke has also been cited for operating on a revoked license. Court records show Bushke was sentenced to 28 months in prison in 2004 on charges stemming from his 6th OWI.
On-Star Leads to OWI
5/10/09 - A 35-year-old drunk driver was done in by a safety feature of his vehicle early this morning. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says they were able to respond to a one-vehicle rollover after the car safety device, On-Star, reported the accident. On-Star operators informed the Sheriffs Department the vehicle had been driven off a ramp on Highway 41 in the Town of Lomira and had rolled. However, by the time deputies arrived the driver, Bradley Zook, had left the scene. Deputies were able to track Zook to his home where they arrested. A breathalyzer showed Zook with a blood alcohol content of .192, more than double the legal limit.
One-Vehicle Rollover in Lowell
5/10/09 - A 24-year-old man was injured in a one-vehicle rollover Saturday morning. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says Dustin Bartsch rolled his vehicle on Highway Y near its intersection with Highway AY in the Town of Lowell around 9:45am. Bartsch was taken to St. Agnes Hospital. He was later cited for operating on a revoked license, driving too fast for conditions, and operating left of the centerline.
Funeral for “Baby Theresa” Tomorrow
5/10/09 - The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says the public is encouraged to come and pay their respects at a funeral for a baby girl who was found dead in a garbage bag late last month. Sheriff Todd Nehls says “Baby Theresa” laid to rest tomorrow in the Lowell Cemetery at 1 pm. Last week the Sheriff praised the public for their generosity in donating baby clothes for the funeral as well as a plot and coffin. Authorities are still looking for the mother of “Baby Theresa”.
DOC Honors Employees
5/10/09 - A number of local residents earned the praise of the Department of Corrections recently. Each year a number of employees are honored with SALUTE Awards, which according to Secretary Rick Raemisch, recognizes the tremendous work of department of corrections employees. The winners include Fox Lake Correctional Officer Perry Krebs and Industries Specialist Dave Jesko, who were honored with the SALUTE Award for Excellence for their actions in November of last year when an inmate used a claw hammer to attack other staff members. The SALUTE Award for Teamwork was awarded to the Dodge Correctional hospice team. Seven other local correctional officers were honored with the “Life Saving Award.”
Legislature Looking at Tough Cuts and Possible Tax Increases
5/10/09 - The choices aren't very pleasant -- and Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature will have to make most of them. With the state's budget deficit now estimated at as much as six and a half billion dollars, talk of service cuts, state worker layoffs and furloughs and pay reductions may not be enough. Tax increases may be the next approach, the politicians will have to wait for the voter backlash. Members of the Joint Finance Committee are calling these "unprecedented times."
Credit Card Reform Looking Probable
5/10/09 - Credit card reform looks like a done deal. Wisconsin congressman Dave Obey is confident that this time credit card reform is going to get done. The Wausau Democrat says consumers are fed up the status quo -- adding that in 2008 credit card companies imposed 19 billion dollars in penalty fees, much of which came from what Obey calls "shady practices." The House easily passed a measure last week requiring card issuers to give consumers 45 days notice of interest rate increases and ban double-cycle billing, in which cardholders are charged interest on balances paid the previous month. An even tougher version of the reforms is up consideration in the Senate.
Feingold Upset with Chrysler and Obama Administration
5/10/09 - Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold says Chrysler may not deserve taxpayer support. Feingold made a statement on the Senate floor. He said he has been assured by the Obama administration that domestic jobs would take priority in any restructuring of the industry. That hasn't happened here in Wisconsin where the Janesville GM plant has already closed, and the Kenosha Chrysler engine plant is scheduled to close. Feingold said people in Kenosha and Wisconsin were angered to learn through the media last week that the Chrysler engine plant would be closing, rather than hearing it directly from the automaker.
UW-Madison Research Effect of Farm Practices on Cows
5/10/09 - The University of Wisconsin-Madison works with two other universities to see how different farm practices affect the health of cows. Researchers in the million-dollar study will produce a series of recommendations on how to keep cows healthy without giving up milk quality or dairy farm profits. The study will focus on organic and conventional farming practices. Three hundred dairy farms in Wisconsin, New York and Oregon will be observed. The University of Wisconsin is working with Cornell University in New York and Oregon State University on the four-year program.
5/10/09 - A man who served prison time earlier this decade for an assortment of drunk driving convictions was picked up for his 7th OWI Saturday night. The Dodge County Sheriffs Department says a caller reported an erratic driver just after 7pm in the Beaver Dam area. Deputies located the car at 112 West Maple Street in Beaver Dam and arrested 40-year-old Martin Bushke on suspicion of drunk driving. Authorities say Bushke has also been cited for operating on a revoked license. Court records show Bushke was sentenced to 28 months in prison in 2004 on charges stemming from his 6th OWI.
On-Star Leads to OWI
5/10/09 - A 35-year-old drunk driver was done in by a safety feature of his vehicle early this morning. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says they were able to respond to a one-vehicle rollover after the car safety device, On-Star, reported the accident. On-Star operators informed the Sheriffs Department the vehicle had been driven off a ramp on Highway 41 in the Town of Lomira and had rolled. However, by the time deputies arrived the driver, Bradley Zook, had left the scene. Deputies were able to track Zook to his home where they arrested. A breathalyzer showed Zook with a blood alcohol content of .192, more than double the legal limit.
One-Vehicle Rollover in Lowell
5/10/09 - A 24-year-old man was injured in a one-vehicle rollover Saturday morning. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says Dustin Bartsch rolled his vehicle on Highway Y near its intersection with Highway AY in the Town of Lowell around 9:45am. Bartsch was taken to St. Agnes Hospital. He was later cited for operating on a revoked license, driving too fast for conditions, and operating left of the centerline.
Funeral for “Baby Theresa” Tomorrow
5/10/09 - The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says the public is encouraged to come and pay their respects at a funeral for a baby girl who was found dead in a garbage bag late last month. Sheriff Todd Nehls says “Baby Theresa” laid to rest tomorrow in the Lowell Cemetery at 1 pm. Last week the Sheriff praised the public for their generosity in donating baby clothes for the funeral as well as a plot and coffin. Authorities are still looking for the mother of “Baby Theresa”.
DOC Honors Employees
5/10/09 - A number of local residents earned the praise of the Department of Corrections recently. Each year a number of employees are honored with SALUTE Awards, which according to Secretary Rick Raemisch, recognizes the tremendous work of department of corrections employees. The winners include Fox Lake Correctional Officer Perry Krebs and Industries Specialist Dave Jesko, who were honored with the SALUTE Award for Excellence for their actions in November of last year when an inmate used a claw hammer to attack other staff members. The SALUTE Award for Teamwork was awarded to the Dodge Correctional hospice team. Seven other local correctional officers were honored with the “Life Saving Award.”
Legislature Looking at Tough Cuts and Possible Tax Increases
5/10/09 - The choices aren't very pleasant -- and Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature will have to make most of them. With the state's budget deficit now estimated at as much as six and a half billion dollars, talk of service cuts, state worker layoffs and furloughs and pay reductions may not be enough. Tax increases may be the next approach, the politicians will have to wait for the voter backlash. Members of the Joint Finance Committee are calling these "unprecedented times."
Credit Card Reform Looking Probable
5/10/09 - Credit card reform looks like a done deal. Wisconsin congressman Dave Obey is confident that this time credit card reform is going to get done. The Wausau Democrat says consumers are fed up the status quo -- adding that in 2008 credit card companies imposed 19 billion dollars in penalty fees, much of which came from what Obey calls "shady practices." The House easily passed a measure last week requiring card issuers to give consumers 45 days notice of interest rate increases and ban double-cycle billing, in which cardholders are charged interest on balances paid the previous month. An even tougher version of the reforms is up consideration in the Senate.
Feingold Upset with Chrysler and Obama Administration
5/10/09 - Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold says Chrysler may not deserve taxpayer support. Feingold made a statement on the Senate floor. He said he has been assured by the Obama administration that domestic jobs would take priority in any restructuring of the industry. That hasn't happened here in Wisconsin where the Janesville GM plant has already closed, and the Kenosha Chrysler engine plant is scheduled to close. Feingold said people in Kenosha and Wisconsin were angered to learn through the media last week that the Chrysler engine plant would be closing, rather than hearing it directly from the automaker.
UW-Madison Research Effect of Farm Practices on Cows
5/10/09 - The University of Wisconsin-Madison works with two other universities to see how different farm practices affect the health of cows. Researchers in the million-dollar study will produce a series of recommendations on how to keep cows healthy without giving up milk quality or dairy farm profits. The study will focus on organic and conventional farming practices. Three hundred dairy farms in Wisconsin, New York and Oregon will be observed. The University of Wisconsin is working with Cornell University in New York and Oregon State University on the four-year program.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, May 8, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
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.
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.
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