Go-Live Date Announced For DCSO Records System
12/19/16 – A target date has been set to launch a new records management system for Dodge County law enforcement. During a recent appearance on WBEV’s Community Comment program, Sheriff Dale Schmidt said the goal is to have Spillman up and running by December 11, 2017. The new software, which the county board agreed to purchase late last year for $1,100,000, will replace New World, which county officials say has been plagued with issues since going live in 2013. Schmidt says the goal is to connect law enforcement countywide and notes he is offering the software to each police department in Dodge County free of charge. However, each municipality that signs on will have to pay $700 per officer in training costs in 2017 and $280 per departmental computer in maintenance fees each year starting in 2019. While at least seven municipalities, including the cities of Juneau and Mayville and the Town of Beaver Dam, have committed funds in their 2017 budget for Spillman, Beaver Dam, the county’s largest municipality, did not include any funding in the document its council adopted last month. Mayor Tom Kennedy says it is possible money could be allocated in future budgets but believes county sales tax revenues should cover the entire cost of implementing Spillman. Sheriff Schmidt still thinks a deal with Beaver Dam will get done in the near future, saying the city uses an outdated system that needs to be replaced one way or another. The sheriff asked Spillman for a quote, which stated Beaver Dam would have to pay $460,000 to purchase the software on its own. Schmidt says it is important that all county agencies sign on to Spillman to ensure interoperability and also to aid each police department in its own investigations as the software allows an agency to access all name files of any Spillman user in Wisconsin, of which there are over 70. Schmidt says any municipality that does not initially commit to Spillman will likely see higher training costs if they decide to join at a later date.
Portage Police Seeks Murder Suspects
12/19/16 – Police in Portage have been looking for two men in the shooting death of one person at the Cattail Lodge on the city’s north side. According to a police statement, two men threatened at least three other people on Sunday night — and one of them was shot and died at the scene. The victim’s name was not immediately released. Police said they were looking for Mario Brown Junior of the Madison area, and another man in his early 20s.
Reeseville Man Accused Of Attacking Officers
12/19/16 – Cash bond was set at $2,500 on Friday for a Reeseville man accused of attacking arresting officers. Jordan Kemper is facing felony counts of Battery to Law Enforcement and Threatening Law Enforcement along with three misdemeanors. Last Wednesday night, police were twice called to the 21-year-old’s apartment for a report of a disturbance within a one-hour span. Officers were reportedly told that Kemper was being loud because he had drunk two large cans of Four Loko, which is an alcoholic beverage that is roughly 12% ABV and was once banned in several states. The first time police were on scene, Kemper allegedly was verbally aggressive and throwing items. On the second visit, they arrested Kemper, who reportedly head-butted one officer and attempted to spit on another. Kemper then threatened to ‘hunt down and kill’ a third officer and his family when that officer arrived at the scene to take Kemper to jail. During the transport, Kemper also reportedly kicked out both rear windows of the squad car. Upon arrival, Kemper was described as being combative with the jail staff and was placed in a padded room for his own safety, as he already had bruises on his head from hitting it against the glass in the squad car. If he is convicted, Kemper faces over 13 years in prison. His preliminary hearing is set for December 22.
Waupun Man Charged With Burglary
12/19/16 – A Waupun man is accused of burglarizing a friend’s house to steal cash to support his heroin addiction. Lucas Roets allegedly stole two change jars from a Waupun residence in September getting away with around $400. The 29-year-old reportedly took the change to a nearby bank where they were able to identify him from both past contacts and video surveillance. If convicted of felony Burglary and two counts of misdemeanor Theft, Roets could spend a combined maximum of 14 years in prison and because he is a repeat offender, an additional four years could be added the sentence. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance in a Dodge County courtroom tomorrow.
Former Wayland Instructor Sentenced For Contact With Student
12/19/16 – A former instructor at Wayland Academy will spend four years in prison for having inappropriate contact with a 16-year-old boy last fall. 24-year-old Adam Hechimovich of Mayville must register as a sex offender and could face an additional four years in prison if he violates his probation.
Fire Destroys Sheds Near Brownsville
12/19/16 – Fire destroyed two sheds in the Fond du Lac County Town of Bryon early Sunday morning. Nine fire departments battled a machine shed fire that spread to a second shed destroying both. Sheriff’s officials say fire had fully engulfed the first shed at W6216 Lost Arrow Road when deputies arrived shortly after 1:30am. No animals or livestock were harmed and no one was injured during the blaze. The property north of Brownsville is owned by Harold Hack. The fire is not believed to be suspicious.
Fire Trucks Freeze in Door County Apartment Fire
12/19/16 – No injuries have been reported as a fire swept through a four-unit apartment building during the night in southern Door County. Units were called around 8:30 p-m to a converted business in the town of Union between Brussels and Dykesville. Fire Chief Curt Vandertie tells W-L-U-K T-V that a number of fire engines froze, as wind chill factors were down to 20 below with the actual temperature at minus seven. The Red Cross was assisting families living in the apartments — and it’s not known how many people were in the building when the fire started.
Two Rescued From Frigid Silo
12/19/16 – A man and his wife in western Wisconsin are okay after being trapped in a frigid silo on their farm. Town fire officials near Fall Creek say a man went into the silo to work around four Sunday afternoon, when part of the silage inside collapsed from a chute and trapped him. W-E-A-U T-V says his wife tried rescuing him, and the same thing happened to her. Both were pulled out safely around nine Sunday night, and their names were not immediately released. It was eight below zero in nearby Eau Claire at the time the incident started — and by the time the couple was rescued, it was eleven below.
Trump Criticizing Electoral Protestors In Advance of Vote
12/19/16 – Just before he’s expected to win the presidency, Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to criticize the protestors who will be in Madison and other state capitols around the country. Late Sunday, the Republican Trump wrote, “If my many supporters acted and threatened people like those who lost the election are doing, they would be scorned and called terrible names!” In Wisconsin, several groups say they’ll protest when the state’s ten G-O-P electors meet at noon to vote for Trump — who won the state’s popular vote by almost 23-thousand. Capitol Police spokesman Steven Michels says they’re not expecting “overwhelming crowds” but they’ll be prepared if they need help.
Legislation Would Target Eating Disorders
12/19/16 – A southeast Wisconsin man helps provide the impetus for a bill passed by Congress to help those with eating disorders and their families. Nathan Libbey of Burlington began pushing for extra insurance coverage for conditions like the bulimia that killed his wife Jennifer. She was a kindergarten teacher in the Burlington public schools until she died in August of 2014. Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin cosponsored the measure, which improves insurance coverage for treatment of eating disorders — plus resources to train professionals to educate patients to try and prevent such illnesses. The proposal is part of a larger health care bill that was given final congressional approval last week, and was sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.
Local Businesses Up For Manufacturing Award
12/19/16 – A couple area companies are among the 26 nominees for this year’s ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ awards. Organizers of the awards say the nominees include Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation in Beaver Dam and Columbus Chemical Industries in Columbus. The awards will be presented at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee on February 23.
Today Is Busiest Mailing Day Of The Year
12/19/16 – Wisconsinites will flock to post offices Monday to get their Christmas cards and packages sent. This is the busiest mailing day of the year, according to the U-S Postal Service — and officials expect five million Americans to visit their local post offices or satellite facilities. In central Wisconsin, more than ten thousand people will have the stamps on their cards canceled with a special “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” design from the Rudolph Post Office in Wood County. To make sure your greetings to get to people on time, the U-S Postal Service says you should get first class cards in the mail by tomorrow (Tuesday), with Priority Mail going out by Wednesday and Priority Express Service Friday. On Christmas Eve, many postal locations will be open — but a lot of them will close at noon Saturday.
