Propane Shortage Emergency Declared In Dodge County
2/4/14 – Dodge County Board Chairman Russell Kottke has declared a state of emergency because of the propane shortage. Governor Walker announced a similar declaration last month. Emergency Management Director Amy Nehls is urging everyone who uses propane to be proactive in helping conserve the current supply. She asks residents to make reasonable adjustments on their thermostat, especially when no one is home, closing vents in unused rooms. Also, hold-off on ordering more fuel until your tank is 30-percent full or less; but do not wait until the tank is almost empty. Nehls also suggests alternative heating sources including wood or pellet stoves or electric space heaters. She also suggests checking in on neighbors, especially the sick, disabled or elderly. Those affected by the rising propane cost should contact the Dodge County Energy Assistance Office in Beaver Dam to see if you are eligible for assistance. The program provides funding for home heating and electric costs, energy crisis situations, emergency furnace repairs and replacements, payment plans for those who are behind on their bills and referrals for home weatherization. The Dodge County Energy Assistance Office in Beaver Dam: (920) 887-7990 or (800) 506-5596.
Beaver Dam Experiencing Salt Shortage
2/4/14 – The salt supply is running low in Beaver Dam. DPW Director Jeremy Klug says extreme cold weather has prompted officials to take steps to conserve street salt for the rest of the winter. The city has exhausted approximately 75-to-80-percent of the salt allotment for the 2013-2014 season. Klug says from this point forward, public works crews will limit salt to intersections, hills, curves, and mid-block on the most heavily traveled streets. Klug says the contracted salt supplier is not able to guarantee delivery dates for future orders, which makes salt rationing even more critical. He asks that motorists drive accordingly by reducing speed, allowing more distance between vehicles and allowing more stopping distance when approaching intersections.
Committee Approves Municipal Court Collaboration
2/4/14 – The Beaver Dam Administrative Committee last night approved a plan that would allow other communities to use the city’s Municipal Court. The court currently serves the city and town of Beaver Dam but could soon handle non-criminal offenses, like municipal ordinance and traffic violations, for the village of Neosho and towns of Rubicon and Ashippun. Municipal Court Clerk Dawn Kuzniewicz says most citations are settled before a trial ever takes place and the collaboration is not expected to burden the current system. The city would generate between $12-and-$16-thousand dollars annually from the partnership. The Administrative Committee unanimously approved the plan, which is currently being considered by the other jurisdictions. The Common Council will hold a public hearing and a final vote on February 17. If approved, the new municipalities would have a say in picking the Municipal Court judge during the next election.
DNR Identifies Fond du Lac County Snowmobile Fatality
2/4/14 – DNR officials have released the name of the 47-year-old Adell man who died in a snowmobiling accident in southeastern Fond du Lac County last Thursday afternoon. John Groshek was unable to negotiate a curve on the trail system in the Town of Auburn and crashed into a tree. He died at the scene. DNR officials say at least 13 people have lost their lives in snowmobiling accidents through last weekend including two in Florence and Iron counties last Saturday.
Beaver Dam Man Appears On Robbery Charge
2/4/14 – A Beaver Dam man made his Initial Appearance Monday morning on a felony count of Robbery with the Use of Force. Nathan Crisafulli was arrested in November following the incident with an acquaintance. Crisafulli approached the victim as the victim walked out of the bathroom of a Madison Street gas station counting his money. Crisafulli reportedly pushed the victim into a car and accused him of stealing a gun. The victim’s story was filled with inconsistencies and investigators believe he was under the influence of drugs. Prosecutors nonetheless say Crisafulli stole $180 and a cell phone with force. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, if he is convicted. Crisafulli had a signature bond set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled later this month.
Beaver Dam Man Charged In Bar Fight Brick Assault
2/4/14 – A Beaver Dam man is accused of beating another man with a brick during a bar fight. Jose Reyna is charged with felony Substantial Battery the assault that occurred last October outside Dino’s Bar in Beaver Dam. The 43-year-old was also charged with two felony counts of Bail Jumping because he was facing felony Substantial Battery charges for another assault at the same bar one year prior. He is currently serving a one month jail sentence for that incident. Reyna was an employee of the bar at the time of the more recent incident but was apparently not working at the time. There was said to be friction between the two that may have began at a different bar and possibly involved racial slurs being used. The victim may have also dented Reyna’s truck. Reyna allegedly beat the man several times in the face with the brick, breaking his nose and fracturing his eye socket. If convicted, the charges carry a maximum combined sentence of over 15 years in prison. Reyna is scheduled to appear for an Initial Appearance in Dodge County court on February 24.
Waupun Woman Accused of Burglary
2/4/14 – A Waupun woman is accused of breaking into homes and stealing jewelry and prescription drugs. Robyn Slock is facing three felony charges for offenses this past September. The victims in one break-in suspected that Slock stole their jewelry and prescription drugs. Officers contacted a local jewelry store and learned she had attempted to sell the items there. Slock later consented to a police search of her residence. She was connected to a second burglary after authorities reportedly discovered prescription pill bottles that belonged to the victim. Each felony charge carries a maximum 12-and-a-half year prison sentence, if she is convicted. Slock had a signature bond set at $1000 yesterday and a judge will decide next month if there is enough evidence to order a trial.
Hartford Man Accused of Conning Youth In Super Bowl Scam
2/4/14 – A Hartford man is facing numerous charges, after he allegedly abandoned 10 youngsters he promised to take on a Super Bowl trip. 39-year-old Rafael Andrews is being held in Pennsylvania on a 150-thousand dollar bond. According to a newspaper in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, Andrews said he wanted to take the kids to Sunday’s Super Bowl to raise money for the Christian Programs for Inner City Children. Five of the youngsters called police, saying they were abandoned at a shopping mall. Five others were reportedly left un-supervised as they raised money door-to-door in cold weather. Andrews faces multiple counts of endangering children’s welfare.
Propane Leak Ignites Fire Ball At Allenton Company
2/4/14 – Washington County Sheriff’s officials say an employee at Allcast Incorporated in Allenton 2/4/14 – knocked over some plastic pallets Monday morning causing the valve and pipe on a 300-pound propane tank to break off. The employee then ignited the leaking gas from the tank by starting up a forklift. The employee and forklift were then enveloped in a fireball. The employee escaped injury and the forklift was not even damaged. The fire did damage the plastic pallets and, along with repairs to the piping, damage was estimated at about $5000.
Lawsuit Seeks To Strike Down Gay Marriage Ban
2/4/14 – Four same-sex couples are not only trying to strike down Wisconsin’s gay marriage ban. The federal lawsuit they filed yesterday also seeks to throw out an obscure state law which makes it a criminal misdemeanor for Wisconsin couples to marry in other states if their unions are not recognized here. Eight plaintiffs filed their lawsuit in federal court in Madison, with backing from the American Civil Liberties Union. One of the four couples were married in neighboring Minnesota last year. The other three are not married. Judi Trampf told reporters she didn’t want to take the risk of being prosecuted, and face nine months in jail and a 10-thousand dollar fine. The couples’ lawyers said they did not know of any other state with a law like this. Fifty-nine percent of Wisconsin voters approved the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage and civil unions in 2006. The lawsuit seeks to drop the ban — and to drop earlier language from state law which describes marriage as between a husband-and-wife. Republican State Attorney General J-B Van Hollen vowed to defend the amendment. He said he believes it’s constitutional. Wisconsin Family Action, the group that brought forth the amendment, said it would probably try to become involved in defending the ban in court.
Public Hearing Today on Proposed Tax Cut
2/4/14 – The Wisconsin Assembly could vote a week from today on Governor Scott Walker’s half-billion-dollar tax cut plan — even though it’s being held up in the Senate. The Assembly’s economic committee will hold a public hearing at noon today on the Republican Walker’s proposal to slash 406-million dollars in property taxes and 98-million in income taxes. Normally, the Joint Finance Committee would be the first to handle such a measure. But majority Senate Republicans don’t have the votes to approve the tax cuts Walker announced two weeks ago in his State-of-the-State address. That’s because it would increase the deficit at the start of the next budget by 100-million dollars — and senators from both parties want the structural deficit addressed first. Walker and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos say the shortfall would be wiped out by economic growth, and they believe it’s a non-issue.
