August 24, 2016

$16K In Gift Cards Stolen From Beaver Dam Churches

 

8/24/16 – The Beaver Dam Police Department is investigating two church burglaries and an attempted break-in at a third church. Beaver Dam Police Lt. Terrance Gebhardt says all three incidents occurred Sunday night or early Monday morning. Grace Presbyterian on Gould Street and First Lutheran at North Center and Mackie streets both had their safes broken into. Gebhardt says $16-thouand dollars in Scrip cards were taken. Churches – along with schools, sports teams and other non-profits – buy the Scrip cards at reduced rates and sell them to supporters who pay the full value for use at restaurants, gas stations or other participating businesses. Gebhardt says authorities are working to determine how much and where all the cards were generated as multiple businesses can issue script cards. Nothing else was apparently taken. There was also an attempted break-in at Trinity United Methodist on North Center and Oneida; custodians told police that they discovered one of the doors had pry marks but entry was not gained. Gebhardt notes that Trinity is directly across the street from First Lutheran so it is believed that efforts were made to try to burglarize Trinity as well. Anyone with information should contact Beaver Dam Police at 887-4612 or Lt. Terrance Gebhardt at (920) 887-4614 ext. 503.

 

FDL District Attorney Intends To Retry Dennis Brantner

 

8/24/16 – A Kenosha truck driver accused in the 1990 killing of Berit Beck has asked a judge to drop his murder charge. Sixty-three-year-old Dennis Brantner was put on trial in June, but a jury could not reach a verdict. Now, defense lawyer Craig Powell tells Fond du Lac County Circuit Judge Gary Sharpe that trying Brantner again would amount to double jeopardy. District Attorney Eric Toney says a mistrial was never officially declared, although the judge could rule on that September sixth when a hearing is scheduled on the D-A’s request for a fresh trial. The 18-year-old Beck was killed in July of 1990 in Fond du Lac, while going from her Racine County home to a computer training seminar in Appleton; her body was found near Waupun. Brantner was not charged until March of last year after investigators said they found evidence that he was in Beck’s van.

 

Horicon Man Going To Jail For Attacking Girlfriend

 

8/24/16 – A Kenosha truck driver accused in the 1990 killing of Berit Beck has asked a judge to drop his murder charge. Sixty-three-year-old Dennis Brantner was put on trial in June, but a jury could not reach a verdict. Now, defense lawyer Craig Powell tells Fond du Lac County Circuit Judge Gary Sharpe (sharp) that trying Brantner again would amount to double jeopardy. District Attorney Eric Toney says a mistrial was never officially declared, although the judge could rule on that September sixth when a hearing is scheduled on the D-A’s request for a fresh trial. The 18-year-old Beck was killed in July of 1990 in Fond du Lac, while going from her Racine County home to a computer training seminar in Appleton, and her body was found near Waupun. Brantner was not charged until March of last year after investigators said they found evidence that he was in Beck’s van.

 

New Apartment Complex Possible For Horicon

 

8/24/16 – A new apartment complex could be coming to Horicon.  Sword Financial Corporation, the holding company that owns Horicon Bank, is looking into the possibility of constructing a 40-unit apartment building with one or two retail spaces on the ground level on their property at 124 Barstow Street.  Horicon’s Common Council last night approved rezoning that property from residential to commercial.  Mayor Steve Neitzel says Sword is working with a Madison-based developer that has created similar apartment complexes in places like Watertown and Chilton.  Neitzel believes the apartments could give people looking to move to the area for work a quality place to live.  He says tenant requirements would include having a job and being of moderate income, likely $14,000-$40,000.  The project could cost around $6,000,000.  Sword Financial is in the competitive process of applying for tax credit revenue to help with the potential project.  If the apartment complex is constructed, the goal would be to have it open for residency in 2018.

 

Horicon Council Votes To Repair West Lake Street Alley

 

8/24/16 – The nine homeowners with property along Horicon’s West Lake Street Alley will pay to have the alley repaired this fall.  The council voted last night to lay a new surface on the alley for roughly $10,500, or $13.03 per foot.  Homeowners will pay anywhere from $600-$3,800, depending on their property size.  The project should be complete by the end of October.

 

Waupun Schools Planning Public Info Campaign on Referendum

 

8/24/16 – Waupun school officials are planning a public information campaign in advance of the $36-million dollar referendum that will appear on the November ballot for district voters. The school board this week gave the final approval for the school funding question. Referendum consultant Kit Daily with architect Eppstein Uhen provided an update on the process to the school board Monday night. Daily says there will be opportunities for the public to learn more about the referendum. In addition to using social and traditional media, Daily says the schools will be open to the public at select times and at least three open houses are planned.  If approved by voters, the referendum will fund secure, visible main entrances at Meadow View Primary, SAGES School and Rock River Intermediate; address aging infrastructure and ADA accessibility at all four district schools, including HVAC upgrades, window replacement, and parking lot improvements among other projects; build a track and tennis courts at the Junior/Senior High School; and renovate classrooms and create flexible learning areas to support college and career-readiness, make age-appropriate updates, establish large group instructional spaces, and upgrade cafeterias and gymnasiums. The district had considered building an additional gym at the high school but decided instead to use the money on deferred maintenance items and make the gym at Meadow View regulation size.

 

DNR Reorganization Targeted For Late Fall

 

8/24/16 – The state Department of Natural Resources has delayed a major reorganization of its controversial agency until late this fall. In February, officials said they hoped to complete the realignment by July first — but now, D-N-R spokesman Jim Dick tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the changes will begin in late fall, saying it’s more important to “get things right than get there quickly.” The agency which regulates the environment, hunting, and fishing in Wisconsin previously said it would consider moving some functions elsewhere in state government and streamline regulations. The D-N-R says it wants to be more efficient without hurting environmental protections — but numerous media reports have said it has reduced its enforcement actions since 2011, amid an 18-percent drop in the agency’s workforce since 1995. Governor Scott Walker previously said the state is working more closely with people earlier in their projects to avoid fines and sanctions.

 

Business Pushing Minimum Markup Changes Under Fire

 

8/24/16 – Krist Oil, the gas station chain that filed suit this week to strike down Wisconsin’s minimum markup law, has been under a state investigation since 2011 for allegedly violating that law. The Wisconsin State Journal says Krist agreed to follow the longtime requirement of a nine-percent markup for gasoline unless competitors charge less — but the consumer protection agency later received dozens more complaints, and after it investigated, it sought Justice Department prosecution against Krist which never occurred. The State Journal says the consumer protection probe remains open, but officials would not comment while the Justice agency reviews the new lawsuit. Krist Oil — which has about 70 convenience stores in northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan — has also complained about competitors breaking the markup law. A report surfaced Tuesday from the Wisconsin Public Research Institute stating that Krist filed 70-percent of the markup law complaints the state received in 2014.

 

Hundreds Turn Out To Funeral Of Doug Lee

 

8/24/16 – Hundreds of friends and neighbors joined the Fall River Pirates football team in full uniform at a crowded St. Jerome’s Church in Columbus yesterday to say goodbye to a native son. Funeral services were held for Doug Lee, a local businessman, coach and former school board president. The 54-year-old died in a Columbia County traffic accident last Thursday.  Lee was born in Beaver Dam and went to school in Columbus. He served for 12 years on the Fall River School Board including two terms as president and was as a Pirate assistant coach. Lee was also the owner of Preferred Plumbing. He is survived by his wife Carrie, daughter Rachel and two sons, Tyler and Hunter.