News – October 3, 2016

Beaver Dam Council To Get Budget Packet Tonight

10/3/16 – Beaver Dam Common Council will get their first look at the city’s 2017 budget tonight when alderpersons are presented with their budget packets. Mayor Tom Kennedy outlined the process for taxpayers Friday on WBEV’s Community Comment. Kennedy says prior to getting the budget in the hands of elected officials, he worked with the city finance director and department heads to reduce $558-thousand dollars in red ink from the initial levy proposal. He says the city will once again comply with the state’s Expenditure Restraint Program, which rewards municipalities that keep their tax levy in control. Beaver Dam will be getting $350-thousand dollars from the state for being in compliance. The budget does include a $115-thousand-dollar expenditure that Kennedy feels passionate about. The creation of a new detective’s position in the police department dedicated full-time to fighting drug. A new full-time paramedic at $80-thousand annually is also being proposed. City leaders are expected to set a committee of the whole meeting or meetings tonight to review the budget. Final adopted is slated for the third Monday in November.

Fentanyl Discovered In Heroin In Dodge County OD Deaths

10/3/16 – Confirmation that another dangerous substance has arrived in Dodge County. In February, the sheriff’s office told us that four drug overdoses occurred in a three-week span. On WBEV’s Community Comment last week, Sheriff Dale Schmidt said he followed up with the county medical examiner after the deaths to learn more about the cause. Schmidt says he recently received the results, and fentanyl was reportedly mixed with heroin in three of the four instances. He calls fentanyl a “dangerous additive that comes with a high likelihood for an overdose.” Schmidt says it is often used for pain relief and is so strong that law enforcement is told not to handle it without gloves as it can cause a strong reaction. Fentanyl is said to be 80 times more potent than morphine and has a five-minute onset upon ingestion. Dodge County reportedly had 18 overdose deaths in 2015 while this year’s figure will not be released until early 2017. Schmidt says the county’s human services and health department is available to help anyone dealing with addiction.

Dodge County Traffic Safety Reminds Of Cell Phone Usage

10/3/16 – A new state law bans cell phone usage in a construction zone, unless it is a hands-free device. The law went into effect on Saturday. Dodge County Traffic Safety Commission Coordinator Joel Kiesow says drivers caught violating the law can face fines of up to $40 plus court cost on a first offense and $100 plus court cost for subsequent offenses. There is one exception to the law — it’s okay if you’re calling 9-1-1. There are about two-thousand construction zone accidents every year, with many blamed on distracted driving. Wisconsin is one of 14 states with a full or partial ban on using a cell phone while driving.

Two Vehicle Accident Closes Highway 60 In Lowell

10/3/16 – Multiple agencies responded to a two-vehicle accident that blocked both lanes of Highway 60 in the Town of Lowell. The Wisconsin State Patrol says the wreck occurred at 5:19pm yesterday near County Highway KW. 69-year-old Daniel J. Hackett and 55-year-old Mark A. Lewis were involved in the crash. EMS transported the injured from the scene; the extent of injuries is not known at this time. The highway was re-opened by 7:30pm.

Dousman Transport Busses Destroyed In Waukesha County Fire

10/3/16 – Thirty-four school buses have been destroyed in a fire at a busing contractor in Waukesha County. Dousman Transport of North Lake still vows to get all the youngsters it serves to their classes on time Monday morning. Multiple fire departments were called around one p-m Sunday, after several buses went up in flames at Dousman’s bus lot in the town of Merton. A vehicle barn was also destroyed, and officials are not sure what caused the fire. Hartland Arrowhead Superintendent Laura Myrah says Dousman worked with her district to make sure all the students get rides to and from their Monday classes — and the company also works with several other larger school systems in southeast Wisconsin including Mukwonago and Kettle Moraine.

Columbus Country Club Seeks Lease Extension With City

10/3/16 – The Columbus Country Club board of directors has approached the city council looking for an extension on their current 20-year property lease. The Country Club Board is planning to make major improvements to the parking lot, clubhouse and course. City Administrator Patrick Vander Sanden said that their lease extension will be needed for bank funding. The current lease expires in 2022. The city council is scheduled to consider the country club’s lease extension request at the next regular council meeting on Tuesday.

Sanders, Trump Jr. In Wisconsin This Week

10/3/16 – Hillary Clinton’s former Democratic primary opponent will campaign for her in Wisconsin this week. U-S Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont will appear with Democratic Senate candidate Russ Feingold Wednesday afternoon at Monona Terrace in Madison, and in Green Bay at a Salvation Army community center. The Clinton campaign says Sanders will discuss Democratic plans to improve the economy, fight climate change, help students pay for college, and fix the justice system. Sanders told A-B-C’s “This Week” Sunday that a vote for a third party candidate would essentially be a vote for Republican Donald Trump. Trump’s son Donald Junior is scheduled to campaign for his father on Wednesday in the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield.

Bow Deer Season Underway

10/3/16 – Wisconsin’s deer hunting season is underway for bows and arrows. And the state D-N-R has started a new program to encourage more hunters to get into the woods. It’s called “R” Three — recruitment, retention, and reactivation, and the goals are to get new groups of people involved in deer hunting — and bring back those who’ve stopped for some reason. The D-N-R’s Keith Warnke says the state can no longer just rely on families to continue their hunting traditions. There’s about one million deer hunters in the Badger State — but only two thirdsbuy licenses each year, and the state wants to bring back those who have not hunted in a long time.

BDACT: Auditions Monday, Tuesday For Xmas Radio Play

10/3/16 – Auditions are being held tonight and tomorrow for a Christmas radio play. The Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre is once again teaming up with WBEV-WXRO for the annual, old fashioned broadcast. The show selected for this year is the holiday classic “A Christmas Carol.” Director Dan Bell says the version being performed is based on the Charles Dickens tale but was adapted by Phillip Grecian four years ago specifically for radio. He says special effects are especially important and will be done live on stage. Bell says there are several roles for ages eight-and-up, including several adult roles, and because it is a radio play, there is no memorization required. Instead, the emphasis will be on facial expressions and reading. He says the production will be a fully-costumed radio show like the ones performed in the 1940’s. “A Christmas Carol” will be on the stage December 15, 16 and 17; the broadcast dates are to be determined. One of the performances will be taped for future replay on the WBEV and WXRO closer to Christmas. Rehearsals will take place select weekdays in the six weeks prior to the performance dates and can be customized based on the lines of each character. Those auditioning are asked to bring the dates of any potential conflicts. Auditions are being held at the Community Theatre building at 219 North Spring Street, using the entrance off Third Street. They are being held tonight (Mon) and tomorrow (Tue) evening from 6pm to 8pm. Copies of the script are available at the public libraries in Beaver Dam, Horicon and Mayville. Additional information is on the theatre’s website at bdact.org, you’ll find a link on our website wbevradio.com.

BDAAA Hosting Halloween Haunted ‘Dead’ And Breakfast

10/3/16 – There will be a haunted house in Dodge County this Halloween season. The Beaver Dam Area Arts Association is hosting a ‘haunted hotel.’ During a recent appearance on WBEV’s Community Comment, Executive Director Jessalyn Braun said the theme is ‘dead and breakfast.’ Braun says the haunted house will be inside the Seippel Arts Center and will be open each night from October 28-31. Shows designed for different age groups will be held each night, getting progressively scarier as time passes. Anyone interested in helping out as an actor or behind the scenes should contact the association. All proceeds benefit BDAAA.