News – October 8, 2016

Wisconsin Traffic Deaths Down In September, 2016

10/8/16 – Last month was the safest September on Wisconsin roads since the end of World War Two. According to the Department of Transportation, 45 traffic deaths were recorded in the Badger State last month. That is 23 fewer than September 2015 and 13 fewer than September’s five-year average. In the first nine months of the year, there were 440 traffic fatalities in Wisconsin. That number included 67 motorcyclists, five motorcycle passengers, 33 pedestrians, and ten bicyclists. Dodge County has seen nine road deaths in 2016 after having 11 last year. Columbia County’s 18 traffic fatalities this year are fourth highest in the state behind only Milwaukee, Dane, and Waukesha counties. In 2016, Washington County has seen ten road deaths while Fond du Lac County has had eight, Jefferson County six, and Green Lake County one.

Problems Arise In Plat Book Bidding Process

10/8/16 – Still no final confirmation on who will print Dodge County’s plat books this fall. At last month’s executive committee meeting, a bid was accepted from JP Graphics of Appleton who said they could print 800 copies for $2,820. At this week’s meeting, Clerk Karen Gibson told the committee JP Graphics since retracted the bid, saying it was a mistake. After viewing the other three bids, the Appleton company submitted a new bid of $5,000, which they say is at cost. The committee decided not to accept JP Graphics new bid and instead told Gibson to reach out to Westphal of Brownsville. Gibson was asked to negotiate Westphal’s bid down for the initial $6,238. The committee selected Westphal since it has printed the books in previous years and is the lone company in Dodge County of the four that submitted bids. Plat books are come out every few years, are roughly 80 pages long, and show all property ownership and public hunting lands in Dodge County’s various townships. Books should be for sale in late November. Cost is $30 per book and $3.50 shipping for each book. Checks can be dropped off or mailed to the county clerk’s office at the Dodge County Administration Building in Juneau.

Warrant Issued For Brownsville Man Who Failed To Appear In Court

10/8/16 – A warrant was issued yesterday for a Brownsville teen who failed to appear for a probation hearing in Dodge County court. Alec James Ryan was sentenced to six months in jail last summer for robbing the Brownsville BP Gas Station in November 2014. The 19-year-old would avoid prison time if he stayed out of trouble during his five years’ probation.

Work On Columbus Intersection Winding Down

10/8/16 – Work is winding down on one of Columbus’ busiest intersections. The Highway 16/60 reconstruction project is in its third and final phase as traffic lights will soon be installed. The effort is on schedule and work should wrap up by the end of this month. Public access to all area businesses is still available.

Day-Long Event Highlighting Dodge County Agriculture

10/8/16 – A day-long event is showcasing a variety of Dodge County communities. Today is the second annual ‘fall farm and foliage tour,’ which encourages people to drive to seven stops at their own pace. Organizer Leslie Hershberger says the event is intended to highlight various agricultural spots in Dodge County. This year’s tour focuses on the county’s northern half and begins with map pick-up and blacksmith demonstrations at Black Oak Forge at W5970 Highway 33 in Juneau. Following that are stops at Beaver Dam’s Seippel Center for the Arts, Fox Lake’s downtown area and historical society, Tom Dooley’s Apple Orchards in Waupun, the Marsh Haven in Waupun, and the Rock River Archeological Weekend at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center. The farm and foliage tour runs from 9 am to 4 pm.

Jagler Honored With Commerce Award

10/8/16 – A local politician has been recognized for his work in the last legislative session. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce has bestowed the ‘Champion of Commerce’ award on Watertown Representative John Jagler. The award is given to lawmakers who earn an 80% or greater ranking on MMAC’s biennial ‘legislative scorecard,’ which tracks votes tied to public policy for workers and employers. Jagler scored 100% for the 2015-16 session.

Wisconsin Volunteers Helping Hurricane Victims

10/8/16 – Dozens of Red Cross volunteers from Wisconsin are headed south to help victims of Hurricane Matthew. About 30 people from across the state are in the first wave of volunteers headed for Florida. The hurricane approached Florida overnight, bringing damaging winds and heavy rain. Over one million Florida residents are without power. A second wave of volunteers is scheduled to be deployed, depending on how much help is needed in the areas rocked by hurricane damage.

Roadblock In Wisconsin Food Stamp Change

10/8/16 – A federal judge says it’s too early to let Wisconsin make food stamp recipients pass drug tests to get their benefits. Milwaukee District Judge Charles Clevert says Washington has yet to decide whether to give its approval to the drug tests. Governor Scott Walker’s administration filed suit to let the state proceed, saying the federal government is not likely to allow the action on its own. Clevert calls the state’s reasoning “speculative,” and the judge is being asked to decide the case in a “vacuum” because the state’s details for the test requirement were not finalized yet. Republicans included a drug test mandate for able bodied adults in the Food Share program as part of the current state budget.

Johnson: Next Term Would Be My Last

10/8/16 – U-S Senate Republican Ron Johnson says his next term would be his last if he’s reelected next month. Johnson is going for his second six-year term against the Democrat he unseated in 2010, Russ Feingold. Johnson says he wants to use his experience as a manufacturer and accountant to fix the nation’s problems and not keep running for reelection. He ran a plastics business in Oshkosh when he decided to run for the Senate to try and eliminate the Obama health care act, which didn’t happen but four years later, Johnson won a major committee chairmanship when he was named to lead the Homeland Security panel. Feingold served 18 years in the Senate before losing in a Republican wave in 2010 — and their race is one of the most watched in the nation, as Democrats try to win back the Senate’s majority.

Low-Income Families To Get Free Water Filters

10/8/16 – The city of Milwaukee is receiving $75,000 to purchase water filters for low-income families with young children so they may avoid lead contamination. The money is coming from the United Way of Milwaukee and Waukesha County along with a group of hospitals and healthcare facilities. Mayor Tom Barrett urged people who live in homes built before 1951 to put filters on their faucets to eliminate lead from their drinking water a month ago. Barrett wants to spend $11,000,000 next year on lead-abatement projects.